4. Varṇa System

i. The Four Varṇas

Āpastamba

चत्वारो वर्णा ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियवैश्यशूद्राः ।4 तेषां पूर्वः पूर्वो जन्मतः श्रेयान् ।5 अशूद्राणामदुष्टकर्मणामुपायनं वेदाध्ययनमग्न्याधेयं फलवन्ति च कर्माणि ।6

4 There are four classes: Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, and Śūdra. 5 Among these, each preceding class is superior by birth to each subsequent. 6 Those who are not Śūdras and are not guilty of evil deeds may undergo initiation, undertake vedic study, and set up the sacred fires; and their rites bear fruit. [A 1.1.4-6]

धर्मचर्यया जघन्यो वर्णः पूर्वं पूर्वं वर्णमापद्यते जातिपरिवृत्तौ ।10 अधर्मचर्यया पूर्वो वर्णो जघन्यं जघन्यं वर्णमापद्यते जातिपरिवृत्तौ ।11

10 By following the righteous path people belonging to a lower class advance in their subsequent birth to the next higher class, 11 whereas by following an unrighteous path people belonging to a higher class descend in their subsequent birth to the next lower class. [A 2.11.10-11]

Baudhāyana

चत्वारो वर्णा ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियवैश्यशूद्राः ।1

1 There are four classes: Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, and Śūdra. [B 1.16.1]

Vasiṣṭha

चत्वारो वर्णा ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियवैश्यशूद्राः ।1 त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयो ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियवैश्याः ।2

1 There are four classes: Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, and Śūdra. 2 Three classes are twice-born: Brahmin, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya. [Va 2.1-2]

प्रकृतिविशिष्टं चातुर्वर्ण्यं संस्कारविशेषाच्च ।1 ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥ इत्यपि निगमो भवति ।2 गायत्र्या ब्राह्मणमसृजत त्रिष्टुभा राजन्यं जगत्या वैश्यं न केनचिच्छन्दसा शूद्रमित्यसंस्कार्यो विज्ञायते ।3

1 The four classes are distinguished by their origin and by specific sacramentary rites. 2 There is also the vedic passage: "His mouth became the Brahmin; his arms were made into the Kṣatriya; his thighs are the Vaiśya; and from his feet the Śūdra was born. 3 He created the Brahmin with the Gāyatrī meter, the Kṣatriya with the Triṣṭubh meter, and the Vaiśya with the Jagatī meter, whereas the Śūdra he created without the use of any meter." This passage points out that the Śūdra is not to undergo any sacramentary rite. [Va 4.1-3]

ii. Mixed Varṇas

Āpastamba

स्तेनोऽभिशस्तो ब्राह्मणो राजन्यो वैश्यो वा परस्मिँल्लोकेऽपरिमिते निरये वृत्ते जायते चाण्डालो ब्राह्मणः पौल्कसो राजन्यो वैणो वैश्यः ।6 एतेनान्ये दोषफलैः कर्मभिः परिध्वंसा दोषफलासु योनिषु जायन्ते वर्णपरिध्वंसायाम् ।7

6 When a thief or a heinous sinner, whether he is a Brahmin, a Kṣatriya, or a Vaiśya, completes his sojourn in the next world living in an interminable hell, he is born here again—a Brahmin as a Cāṇḍāla, a Kṣatriya as a Paulkasa, and a Vaiśya as a Vaiṇa. 7 In like manner, others, when they fall from their castes as a result of their sinful acts, are born as outcastes in wombs that are the aftermath of their sins. [A 2.2.6-7]

Gautama

अनुलोमानन्तरैकान्तरद्व्यन्तरासु जाताः सवर्णाम्बष्ठोग्रनिषाददौष्यन्तपारशवाः ।16 प्रतिलोमास्तु सूतमागधायोगवक्षत्तृवैदेहकचण्डालाः ।17 ब्राह्मण्यजीजनत्पुत्रान् वर्णेभ्य आनुपूर्व्याद्ब्राह्मणसूतमागधचण्डालान् ।18 तेभ्य एव क्षत्रिया मूर्धावसिक्तक्षत्रियधीवरपुल्कसान् ।19 तेभ्य एव वैश्या भृज्यकण्ठमाहिष्यवैश्यवैदेहान् ।20 पारशवयवनकरणशूद्राञ्छूद्रेत्येके ।21 वर्णान्तरगमनमुत्कर्षापकर्षाभ्यां सप्तमेन ।22 पञ्चमेनाचार्याः ।23 सृष्ट्यन्तरजातानां च ।24 प्रतिलोमास्तु धर्महीनाः ।25 शूद्रायां च ।26 असमानायां च शूद्रात्पतितवृत्तिः ।27 अन्त्यः पापिष्ठः ।28

16 Children born in keeping with the natural order of classes from women of the class immediately below are Savarṇas, the man's Ambaṣṭhas, and Ugras; from women two classes below the man's, Niṣādas and Dauṣyantas; and from women three classes below the man's, Pāraśavas. 17 Children born in the reverse order of classes from women of the class immediately above the man's are Sūtas, Māgadhas, and Āyogavas; from women two classes above the man's, Kṣattṛs and Vaidehas; and from women three classes above the man's, Caṇḍālas. 18 From men of the four classes, a Brahmin woman gives birth respectively to Brahmins, Sūtas, Māgadhas, Caṇḍālas; 19 from the same men, a Kṣatriya woman gives birth respectively to Mūrdhāvasiktas, Kṣatriyas, Dhīvaras, and Pulkasas; 20 from the same men, a Vaiśya woman gives birth respectively to Bhṛjyakaṇṭhas, Māhiṣyas, Vaiśyas, and Vaidehas; 21 and from the same men, a Śūdra woman gives birth respectively to Pāraśavas, Yavanas, Karaṇas, and Śūdras. That is the opinion of some. 22 By successively marrying persons of the higher or the lower class, in the seventh generation the offspring moves to the one or the other class; 23 in the fifth, according to the Teachers. 24 This is true also in the case of those born to parents belonging to different mixed classes. 25 Children born to parents in the reverse order of classes, on the other hand, are outside the Law, 26 as also those born to a Śūdra woman. 27 A child of a Śūdra man from a woman of a different class shall be treated like an outcaste, 28 the one listed last being the vilest. [G 4.16-28]

Baudhāyana

तासु पुत्राः सवर्णानन्तरासु सवर्णाः ।6 एकान्तरद्व्यन्तरास्वम्बष्ठोग्रनिषादाः ।7 प्रतिलोमास्वायोगवमागधवैणक्षत्तृपुल्कसकुक्कुटवैदेहकचण्डालाः ।8 अम्बष्ठात्प्रथमायां श्वपाकः ।9 उग्राद्द्वितीयायां वैणः ।10 निषादात्तृतीयायां पुल्कसः ।11 विपर्यये कुक्कुटः ।12 निषादेन निषाद्यामापञ्चमाज्जातोऽपहन्ति शूद्रताम् ।13 तमुपनयेत्षष्ठं याजयेत् ।14 सप्तमोऽविकृतबीजः समबीजः सम इत्येषां संज्ञाः क्रमेण निपतन्ति ।15 त्रिषु वर्णेषु सादृश्यादव्रतो जनयेत्तु यान् । तान्सावित्रीपरिभ्रष्टान्व्रात्यानाहुर्मनीषिण इति ॥16 रथकाराम्बष्ठसूतोग्रमागधायोगववैणक्षत्तृपुल्कसकुक्कुटवैदेहकचण्डालश्वपाकप्रभृतयः ।1 तत्र सवर्णासु सवर्णाः ।2 ब्राह्मणात्क्षत्रियायां ब्राह्मणो वैश्यायामम्बष्ठः शूद्रायां निषादः ।3 पारशव इत्येके ।4 क्षत्रियाद्वैश्यायां क्षत्रियः शूद्रायामुग्रः ।5 वैश्याच्छूद्रायां रथकारः ।6 शूद्राद्वैश्यायां मागधः क्षत्रियायां क्षत्ता ब्राह्मण्यां चण्डालः । वैश्यात्क्षत्रियायामायोगवो ब्राह्मण्यां वैदेहकः ।7 क्षत्रियाद्ब्राह्मण्यां सूतः ।8 तत्राम्बष्ठोग्रयोः संयोगे भवत्यनुलोमः ।9 क्षत्तृवैदेहकयोः प्रतिलोमः ।10 उग्राज्जातः क्षत्त्र्यां श्वपाकः ।11 वैदेहकादम्बष्ठायां वैणः ।12 निषादाच्छूद्रायां पुल्कसः ।13 शूद्रान्निषाद्यां कुक्कुटः ।14 वर्णसंकरादुत्पन्नान्व्रात्यानाहुर्मनीषिण इति ।15

6 Sons born from wives of the same class as the husband's or the class immediately below his are Savarṇas; 7 sons born from wives two or three classes below the husband are Ambaṣṭhas, Ugras, and Niṣādas; 8 and sons born from wives in the reverse order of class are Āyogavas, Māgadhas, Vaiṇas, Kṣattṛs, Pulkasas, Kukkuṭas, Vaidehakas, and Cāṇḍālas. 9 From a wife belonging to the first class an Ambaṣṭha fathers a Śvapāka. 10 From a wife belonging to the second class an Ugra fathers a Vaiṇa. 11 From a wife belonging to the third class a Niṣāda fathers a Pulkasa, 12 while the inverse produces a Kukkuṭa. 13 A fifth-generation son fathered by a Niṣāda from a Niṣāda woman rids himself of the Śūdra status, 14 and one may perform his initiation. One may officiate at a sacrifice of a sixth-generation son. 15 Together with the seventh-generation son, these are given respectively the following appellations: a man of unmodified seed, a man of equal seed, and an equal. 16 Sons fathered by an uninitiated man are Vrātyas, excluded from initiation—so state the wise with equal reference to the three classes. 1 Rathakāra, Ambaṣṭha, Sūta, Ugra, Māgadha, Āyogava, Vaiṇa, Kṣattṛ, Pulkasa, Kukkuṭa, Vaidehaka, Cāṇḍāla, Śvapāka, and so forth—2 among these, sons of equal class are born from wives of the same class as their husbands; 3 whereas a Brahmin fathers a Brahmin from a Kṣatriya wife, an Ambaṣṭha from a Vaiśya wife, and a Niṣāda from a Śūdra wife, 4 or, according to some, a Pāraśava; 5 a Kṣatriya fathers a Kṣatriya from a Vaiśya wife, and an Ugra from a Śūdra wife; 6 and a Vaiśya fathers a Rathakāra from a Śūdra wife. 7 A Śūdra fathers a Māgadha from a Vaiśya wife, a Kṣattṛ from a Kṣatriya wife, and a Cāṇḍāla from a Brahmin wife; 8 a Vaiśya fathers an Āyogava from a Kṣatriya wife, and a Vaidehaka from a Brahmin wife; and a Kṣatriya fathers a Sūta from a Brahmin wife. 9 Among these, the union of an Ambaṣṭha man with an Ugra woman produces a son in the proper order of class; 10 whereas the union of a Kṣattṛ man and a Vaidehaka woman produces a son in the reverse order of class. 11 From an Ugra father and a Kṣattṛ mother is born a Śvapāka; 12 from a Vaidehaka father and an Ambaṣṭha mother, a Vaiṇa; 13 from a Niṣāda father and a Śūdra wife, a Pulkasa; 14 and from a Śūdra father and a Niṣāda wife, a Kukkuṭa. 15 The wise say that sons born from a union between people of different classes are Vrātyas. [B 1.16.6-16; 1.17.1-15]

द्विजातिप्रवराच्छूद्रायां जातो निषादः ।29 कामात्पारशव इति पुत्राः ।30

29 When a man belonging to the highest of the twice-born classes fathers a son by a Śūdra woman, that son is a Niṣāda; 30 whereas if they cohabit through lust, the son is a Pāraśava. These are the various types of sons. [B 2.3.29-30]

अवन्तयोऽङ्गमगधाः सुराष्ट्रा दक्षिणापथाः । उपावृत्सिन्धुसौवीरा एते संकीर्णयोनयः ॥13

13 The inhabitants of Avantī, Aṅga, Magadha, Surāṣṭra, the Deccan, Upāvṛt, and Sindh, as well as the Sauvīras are of mixed blood. [B 1.2.13]

Vasiṣṭha

शूद्रेण ब्राह्मण्यामुत्पन्नश्चाण्डालो भवतीत्याहुः ।1 राजन्यायां वैणः ।2 वैश्यायामन्त्यावसायी ।3 वैश्येन ब्राह्मण्यामुत्पन्नो रामको भवतीत्याहुः ।4 राजन्यायां पुल्कसः ।5 राजन्येन ब्राह्मण्यामुत्पन्नः सूतो भवतीत्याहुः ।6 अथाप्युदाहरन्ति । छन्नोत्पन्नाश्च ये केचित्प्रातिलोम्यगुणाश्रिताः । गुणाचारपरिभ्रंशात्कर्मभिस्तान् विजानीयुरिति ॥7 एकान्तरद्व्यन्तरत्र्यन्तरासु जाता ब्राह्मणस्याम्बष्ठ उग्रो निषादः ।8 शूद्रायां पारशवः ।9 पारश्चैव जीवन्नेव शवो भवतीत्याहुः । शव इति मृताख्याम् ।10

1 A child sired by a Śūdra man on a Brahmin woman, they say, becomes a Cāṇḍāla; 2 on a Kṣatriya woman, a Vaiṇa; 3 and on a Vaiśya woman, an Antyāvasāyin. 4 A child sired by a Vaiśya man on a Brahmin woman, they say, becomes a Rāmaka, 5 and on a Kṣatriya woman, a Pulkasa. 6 A child sired by a Kṣatriya man on a Brahmin woman, they say, becomes a Sūta. 7 Now, they also quote: "You can know by their actions all those who have been secretly conceived and who are tainted with the attributes rising from relationships in the inverse order of class, because they are devoid of virtue and good conduct." 8 A child sired by a Brahmin, a Kṣatriya, and a Vaiśya on a woman of one, two, or three classes below his becomes an Ambaṣṭha, an Ugra, or a Niṣāda, respectively. 9 A child sired by a Brahmin on a Śūdra woman is a Pāraśava. 10 They say: while still able, that is, while still alive, he is a corpse. "Corpse" is a designation for "dead". [Va 18.1-10]

iii. Privileges and Duties of Brahmins

Āpastamba

दशवर्षश्च ब्राह्मणः शतवर्षश्च क्षत्रियः । पितापुत्रौ स्म तौ विद्धि तयोस्तु ब्राह्मणः पिता ॥25

25 A 10-year-old Brahmin and a 100-year-old Kṣatriya, you should know, stand with respect to each other as a father to a son. But of the two, the Brahmin is the father! [A 1.14.25]

अकरः श्रोत्रियः ।10

10 A learned Brahmin is exempt from taxes. [A 2.26.10]

चक्षुनिरोधस्त्वेतेषु ब्राह्मणस्य ।17

17 If a Brahmin is guilty of these crimes, however, he should be blindfolded. [A 2.27.17]

भृत्यानामनुपरोधेन क्षेत्रं वित्तं च ददद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथार्हमनन्ताँल्लोकानभिजयति ।1 ब्राह्मणस्वान्यपजिगीषमाणो राजा यो हन्यते तमाहुरात्मयूपो यज्ञोऽनन्तदक्षिण इति ।2

1 If he gives land and wealth to Brahmins according to their worth without depriving his own dependents, he will win eternal worlds. 2 When a king is killed attempting to recover property stolen from Brahmins, they call it a sacrifice at which his own body serves as the sacrificial post and an unlimited amount is given as the sacrificial fee. [A 2.26.1-2]

Gautama

द्वौ लोके धृतव्रतौ राजा ब्राह्मणश्च बहुश्रुतः ।1 तयोश्चतुर्विधस्य मनुष्यजातस्यान्तःसंज्ञानां चलनपतनसर्पणानामायत्तं जीवनम् ।2 प्रसूतिरक्षणमसंकरो धर्मः ।3 स एष बहुश्रुतो भवति ।4 लोकवेदवेदाङ्गवित् ।5 वाकोवाक्येतिहासपुराणकुशलः ।6 तदपेक्षस्तद्वृत्तिः ।7 चत्वारिंशता संस्कारैः संस्कृतः ।8 त्रिषु कर्मस्वभिरतः ।9 षट्सु वा ।10 सामयाचारिकेष्वभिविनीतः ।11 षड्भिः परिहार्यो राज्ञा ।12 अवध्यश्चाबन्ध्यश्चादण्ड्यश्चाबहिष्कार्यश्चापरिवाद्यश्चापरिहार्यश्चेति ।13

1 There are in the world two who uphold the proper way of life—the king and the Brahmin deeply learned in the Vedas. 2 And on them depend the life of the fourfold human race, of internally conscious creatures, and of those that move about, fly, and crawl; 3 as well as their increase, protection, non-intermixture, and adherence to the Law. 4 He alone is deeply learned in the Vedas 5 who knows the secular sciences, the Vedas, and the Vedic Supplements; 6 who is well-read in the dialogues, epics, and Purāṇas; 7 who relies on them and patterns his conduct after them; 8 who has been sanctified by the forty sacramentary rites; 9 who is devoted to the three occupations 10 or to the six; 11 and who has been trained in the accepted customary Laws. 12 The king should exempt such a man from six things: 13 he should not be subjected to corporal punishment, imprisonment, fines, banishment, upbraiding, or abandonment. [G 8.1-13]

न शारीरो ब्राह्मणदण्डः ।46 कर्मवियोगविख्यापनविवासनाङ्ककरणानि ।47

46 There shall be no corporal punishment of Brahmins; 47 they are punished by extricating them from such deeds, publishing their crimes, sending them into exile, and branding them. [G 12.46-7]

Baudhāyana

नित्योदकी नित्ययज्ञोपवीती नित्यस्वाध्यायी वृषलान्नवर्जी । ऋतौ च गच्छन्विधिवच्च जुह्वन् न ब्राह्मणश्च्यवते ब्रह्मलोकात् ॥1

1 When a Brahmin always carries his water with him, wears his sacrificial cord constantly, does the recitation of his Veda every day, refrains from eating the food of Śūdras, has sex with his wife during her season, and makes offerings in the sacred fire according to the rules, he will not fall from the world of Brahman. [B 2.3.1]

अयज्ञेनाविवाहेन वेदस्योत्सादनेन च । कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च ॥26

ब्राह्मणातिक्रमो

नास्ति मूर्खे मन्त्रविवर्जिते । ज्वलन्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य न हि भस्मनि हूयते ॥27 गोभिरश्वैश्च यानैश्च कृष्या राजोपसेवया । कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति यानि हीनानि मन्त्रतः ॥28 मन्त्रतस्तु समृद्धानि कुलान्यल्पधनान्यपि । कुलसंख्यां च गच्छन्ति कर्षन्ति च महद्यशः ॥29

26 By not offering sacrifices, by not getting married, by spurning vedic study, and by neglecting Brahmins, respectable families fall into disrepute. 27 One does not incur the sin of neglecting a Brahmin when the man is a fool and bereft of vedic knowledge, for one does not offer an oblation in the ashes while ignoring a blazing fire. 28 When they are bereft of vedic knowledge, respectable families fall into disrepute by dealing in cattle, horses, and vehicles, by engaging in agriculture, and by entering the royal service. 29 When they are rich in vedic knowledge, even poor families are counted among the respectable and attain great fame. [B 1.10.26-9]

Vasiṣṭha

अश्रोत्रिया अननुवाक्या अनग्नयो वा शूद्रसधर्माणो भवन्ति ।1 मानवं चात्र श्लोकमुदाहरन्ति । योऽनधीत्य द्विजो वेदमन्यत्र कुरुते श्रमम् । स जीवन्नेव शूद्रत्वमाशु गच्छति सान्वयः ॥2 नानृग्ब्राह्मणो भवति न वणिङ् न कुशीलवः । न शूद्रप्रेषणं कुर्वन्न स्तेनो न चिकित्सकः ॥3 अव्रता ह्यनधीयाना यत्र भैक्षचरा द्विजाः । तं ग्रामं दण्डयेद्राजा चोरभक्तप्रदो हि सः ॥4

1 Brahmins who are not learned, who do not teach, or who do not maintain the sacred fires become equal to Śūdras. 2 On this point they cite a verse of Manu: "When, without studying the Veda, a twice-born man strives after other matters, he quickly sinks to the level of a Śūdra in this very life together with his descendants." 3 A man ignorant of the Veda cannot be a Brahmin, and neither can a trader, an actor, a man taking orders from a Śūdra, a thief, or a physician. 4 "The king should punish a village from which Brahmins who do not keep to their vows or study the Veda obtain almsfood, for such a village is giving sustenance to a thief." [Va 3.1-4]

ब्राह्मणातिक्रमो नास्ति विप्रे वेदविवर्जिते । ज्वलन्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य न हि भस्मनि हूयते ॥10

यश्च काष्ठमयो हस्ती यश्च चर्ममयो मृगः । यश्च विप्रोऽनधीयानस्त्रयस्ते नामधारकाः ॥11 विद्वद्भोज्यान्यविद्वांसो येषु राष्ट्रेषु भुञ्जते । तान्यनावृष्टिमृच्छन्ति महद्वा जायते भयमिति ॥12

10 One does not incur the sin of neglecting a Brahmin when that Brahmin is a fool and bereft of vedic knowledge, for one does not offer an oblation in the ashes while ignoring a blazing fire. 11 An elephant made of wood, a deer made of leather, and an uneducated Brahmin: all these three are so only in name. 12 Those kingdoms in which ignorant men eat what ought to be eaten by the learned will experience a drought or a great calamity. [Va 3.10-12]

त्रयो वर्णा ब्राह्मणस्य निर्देशेन वर्तेरन् ।39 ब्राह्मणो धर्मान्प्रब्रूयात् ।40 राजा चानुशिष्यात् ।41 राजा तु धर्मेणानुशासन् षष्ठं धनस्य हरेत् ।42 अन्यत्र ब्राह्मणात् ।43 इष्टापूर्तस्य तु षष्ठमंशं भजतीति ह ।44 ब्राह्मणो वेदमाढ्यं करोति ब्राह्मण आपद उद्धरति तस्माद्ब्राह्मणोऽनाद्यः । सोमोऽस्य राजा भवतीति ह ।45

39 The three classes shall abide by the instructions of the Brahmin. 40 The Brahmin shall proclaim their duties, 41 and the king shall govern them accordingly. 42 Governing in accordance with the Law, however, the king may take in taxes a sixth part of their wealth, 43 except from Brahmins. 44 Indeed, it is said: "From them he takes as his share a sixth part of their sacrifices and good works;" 45 "The Brahmin makes the Veda rich; the Brahmin rescues from misfortune. Therefore, the Brahmin is not to be fed upon; Soma is his king." [Va 1.39-45]

योगस्तपो दमो दानं सत्यं शौचं श्रुतं घृणा । विद्या विज्ञानमास्तिक्यमेतद्ब्राह्मणलक्षणम् ॥23 ... ये शान्तदान्ताः श्रुतिपूर्णकर्णा जितेन्द्रियाः प्राणिवधान्निवृत्ताः । प्रतिग्रहे सङ्कुचिताग्रहस्तास्ते ब्राह्मणास्तारयितुं समर्थाः ॥25

23 Discipline, austerity, self-control, liberality, truthfulness, purity, vedic learning, compassion, erudition, intelligence, and religious faith—these are the characteristics of a Brahmin. ... 25 Those who are tranquil and self-controlled, whose ears are ever occupied with listening to the Vedas, who have mastered their senses, who refrain from killing living creatures, and who close their hands when they are offered gifts—they are the Brahmins who have the capacity to redeem others. [Va 6.23, 25]

यं न सन्तं न चासन्तं नाश्रुतं न बहुश्रुतम् । न सुवृत्तं न दुर्वृत्तं वेद कश्चित्स ब्राह्मणः ।44

44 When no one knows whether he is good or bad, learned or ignorant, virtuous or vile, he is indeed a Brahmin. [Va 6.44]

iv. Position of Sūdras

Āpastamba

शुश्रूषा शूद्रस्येतरेषां वर्णानाम् ।7 पूर्वस्मिन्पूर्वस्मिन्वर्णे निःश्रेयसं भूयः ।8

7 Śūdras are to serve the other classes; 8 the higher the class they serve, the greater their prosperity. [A 1.1.7-8]

श्मशानवच्छूद्रपतितौ ।9 समानागार इत्येके ।10 शूद्रायां तु प्रेक्षणप्रतिप्रेक्षणयोरेवानध्यायः ।11

9 The rule pertaining to a cemetery applies also when Śūdras and outcastes are present, 10 although, according to some, it applies only if they are in the same house. 11 He shall suspend his vedic recitation, however, if he even exchanges glances with a Śūdra woman. [A 1.9.9-11]

भुञ्जानं वा ।33 यत्र शूद्र उपस्पृशेत् ।1

33 If, while he is eating, 1 he is touched by a Sūdra (he should stop eating). [A 1.16.33; 1.17.1]

आर्याधिष्ठिता वा शूद्राः संस्कर्तारः स्युः ।4 तेषां स एवाचमनकल्पः ।5 अधिकमहरहः केशश्मश्रुलोमनखवापनम् ।6 उदकोपस्पर्शनं च सह वाससा ।7 अपि वाष्टमीष्वेव पर्वसु वा वपेरन् ।8

4 Alternatively, Śūdra men under the supervision of an Ārya may do the cooking. 5 They are to follow the identical procedure of sipping, 6 with the additional requirement that every day they should shave the hair of their heads, bodies, and beards; clip their nails; 7 and bathe with their clothes on. 8 Alternatively, they may shave only on the eighth day of each fortnight or on new- and full-moon days. [A 2.3.4-8]

नाश्य आर्यः शूद्रायाम् ।8 वध्यः शूद्र आर्यायाम् ।9 दारं चास्य कर्शयेत् ।10

8 An Ārya who has sex with a Śūdra woman should be banished, 9 while a Śūdra who has sex with an Ārya woman should be executed, 10 and that wife of his should be emaciated. [A 2.27.8-10]

जिह्वाच्छेदनं शूद्रस्यार्यं धार्मिकमाक्रोशतः ।14 वाचि पथि शय्यायामासन इति समीभवतो दण्डताडनम् ।15 पुरुषवधे स्तेये भूम्यादान इति स्वान्यादाय वध्यः ।16

14 If a Śūdra hurls abusive words at a virtuous Ārya, his tongue shall be cut out. 15 If, while he is speaking, walking on the road, lying in bed, or occupying a seat, a Śūdra pretends to be equal to Āryas, he should be flogged. 16 If a Śūdra kills a man, steals, or appropriates land, he should be executed and his property confiscated. [A 2.27.14-16]

अनार्यां शयने बिभ्रद्ददद्वृद्धिं कषायपः । अब्राह्मण इव वन्दित्वा तृणेष्वासीत पृष्ठतप् ॥10

यदेकरात्रेण करोति पापं

कृष्णं वर्णं ब्राह्मणः सेवमानः । चतुर्थकाल उदकाभ्यवायी त्रिभिर्वर्षैस्तदपहन्ति पापम् ॥11

10 When someone takes a non-Arya woman to bed, lends money on interest, drinks a decoction, or pays obeisance in a manner unworthy of a Brahmin, he should sit on a spread of grass letting the sun scorch his back. 11 The sin a Brahmin commits by serving a person of the black class for one day he removes in three years by bathing daily and eating at every fourth mealtime. [A 1.27.10-11]

Gautama

शूद्रश्चतुर्थो वर्ण एकजातिः ।50 तस्यापि सत्यमक्रोधः शौचम् ।51 आचमनार्थे पाणिपादप्रक्षालनमेवैके ।52 श्राद्धकर्म ।53 भृत्यभरणम् ।54 स्वदारवृत्तिः ।55 परिचर्या चोत्तरेषाम् ।56 तेभ्यो वृत्तिं लिप्सेत ।57 जीर्णान्युपानच्छत्रवासःकूर्चादीनि ।58 उच्छिष्टाशनम् ।59 शिल्पवृत्तिश्च ।60 यं चार्यमाश्रयेद्भर्तव्यस्तेन क्षीणोऽपि ।61 तेन चोत्तरः ।62 तदर्थोऽस्य निचयः स्यात् ।63 अनुज्ञातोऽस्य नमस्कारो मन्त्रः ।64 पाकयज्ञैः स्वयं यजेतेत्येके ।65 सर्वे चोत्तरोत्तरं परिचरेयुः ।66 आर्यानार्ययोर्व्यतिक्षेपे कर्मणः साम्यम् ।67

50 The Śūdra is the fourth class with a single birth. 51 Speaking the truth, refraining from anger, and purification apply to him also. 52 According to some, he should simply wash his hands and feet in place of sipping water. 53 He should make ancestral offerings; 54 support dependents; 55 be faithful to his wife; 56 serve the upper classes; 57 seek his livelihood from them; 58 use their discarded shoes, umbrellas, clothes, mats, and the like; 59 and eat their leftovers. 60 He may also support himself by working as an artisan. 61 The Ārya whom he serves must support him even when he is unable to work, 62 and under similar circumstances he should support the upper-class man. 63 His savings should be used for that purpose. 64 When he is given leave, he may use the word "Homage!" as his mantra. 65 According to some, he may offer sacrifices on his own using cooked food. 66 All people should serve those belonging to classes higher than themselves. 67 If Āryas do the jobs of non-Āryas and vice versa, they become equal. [G 10.50-67]

द्रव्यादानं विवाहसिद्ध्यर्थं धर्मतन्त्रसंयोगे च शूद्रात् ।24

24 To perform a marriage or in connection with the course of the Law, a person may take money from a Śūdra. [G 18.24]

Baudhāyana

शूद्रापपात्रश्रवणसंदर्शनयोश्च तावन्तं कालम् ।15

15 Within sight or hearing of a Śūdra or a degraded person, furthermore, (vedic recitation is suspended) for the duration. [B 1.21.15]

शूद्राणामार्याधिष्ठितानामर्धमासि मासि वा वपनमार्यवदाचमनकल्पः ।20

20 Śūdras employed by Āryas should shave their hair and cut their nails every fortnight or every month and follow the Ārya mode of sipping water. [B 1.10.20]

उदपानोदके ग्रामे ब्राह्मणो वृषलीपतिः । उषित्वा द्वादश समाः शूद्रसाधर्म्यमृच्छति ॥32

32 If a Brahmin married to a Śūdra woman lives for twelve years in a village which obtains its water from wells, he becomes equal to a Śūdra. [B 2.6.32]

Vasiṣṭha

दीर्घवैरमसूया चासत्यं ब्राह्मणदूषणम् । पैशुन्यं निर्दयत्वं च जानीयाच्छूद्रलक्षणम् ॥24

24 Bearing long grudges, envy, mendacity, reviling Brahmins, slander, and ruthlessness—these should be recognized as the characteristics of a Sūdra. [Va 6.24]

गायत्र्या ब्राह्मणमसृजत त्रिष्टुभा राजन्यं जगत्या वैश्यं न केनचिच्छन्दसा शूद्रमित्यसंस्कार्यो विज्ञायते ।3

3 "He created the Brahmin with the Gāyatrī meter, the Kṣatriya with the Triṣṭubh meter, and the Vaiśya with the Jagatī meter, whereas the Śūdra he created without the use of any meter." This passage points out that the Śūdra is not to undergo any sacramentary rite. [Va 4.3]

एके वा एतच्छ्मशानं ये शूद्राः ।11 तस्माच्छूद्रसमीपे नाध्येतव्यम् ।12 अथापि यमगीताञ्श्लोकानुदाहरन्ति । श्मशानमेतत्प्रत्यक्षं ये शूद्राः पापचारिणः । तस्माच्छूद्रसमीपे तु नाध्येतव्यं कदाचन ॥13 न शूद्राय मतिं दद्यान्नोच्छिष्टं न हविष्कृतम् । न चास्योपदिशेद्धर्मं न चास्य व्रतमादिशेत् ॥14 यश्चास्योपदिशेद्धर्मं यश्चास्य व्रतमादिशेत् । स संवृतं तमो घोरं सह तेन प्रपद्यत इति ॥15

11 According to some, Śūdras are a cremation ground. 12 Therefore, one should not recite the Veda in the vicinity of a Śūdra. 13 Now, they also quote these verses proclaimed by Yama: "Śūdras, men of evil conduct, are manifestly a cremation ground. Therefore, one should not recite the Veda in the vicinity of a Śūdra. 14 One should not impart wisdom to a Śūdra or give him one's leftovers or the remnants of a sacrificial offering. One should not teach him the Law or prescribe to him a vow. 15 A man who teaches him the Law or prescribes to him a vow will go to the dreadful hell called Saṃvṛta." [Va 18.11-15]

नाग्निं चित्वा रामामुपेयात् ।17 कृष्णवर्णा या रामा रमणायैव न धर्मायेति ।18

17 After a man has performed the rite of building the fire altar, he should not cohabit with a dark woman. 18 A woman belonging to the dark class is only for pleasure, not for the fulfilment of the Law. [Va 18.17-18]

किंचिद्वेदमयं पात्रं किंचित्पात्रं तपोमयम् । पात्राणामपि तत्पात्रं शूद्रान्नं यस्य नोदरे ॥26 शूद्रान्नेनोदरस्थेन यः कश्चिन्म्रियते द्विजः । स भवेच्छूकरो ग्राम्यस्तस्य वा जायते कुले ॥27 शूद्रान्नरसपुष्टाङ्गो ह्यधीयानोऽपि नित्यशः । जुह्वन्वापि जपन्वापि गतिमूर्ध्वां न विन्दति ॥28 शूद्रान्नेन तु भुक्तेन मैथुनं योऽधिगच्छति । यस्यान्नं तस्य ते पुत्रा न च स्वर्गार्हको भवेत् ॥29

26 Some are worthy to receive gifts because of their vedic learning, and others because of their austerities. Among all men worthy of receiving gifts, the most worthy is the man into whose stomach the food of a Śūdra has never entered. 27 If a Brahmin dies with the food of a Śūdra in his stomach, he will be reborn as a village pig or in the family of that Śūdra. 28 For a man whose body is nourished by the food of a Śūdra does not find the celestial path, even though he recites the Veda, offers sacrifices, and is constantly engaged in the soft recitation of prayers. 29 If a man has sex after eating the food of a Śūdra, however, his sons will belong to the man who gave the food; and he is not worthy of heaven. [Va 6.26-9]

v. Occupations of Varṇas

Āpastamba

स्वकर्म ब्राह्मणस्याध्ययनमध्यापनं यज्ञो याजनं दानं प्रतिग्रहणं दायाद्यं शिलोञ्छः ।4 अन्यच्चापरिगृहीतम् ।5 एतान्येव क्षत्रियस्याध्यापनयाजनप्रतिग्रहणानीति परिहाप्य दण्डयुद्धाधिकानि ।6 क्षत्रियवद्वैश्यस्य दण्डयुद्धवर्जं कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्याधिकम् ।7

4 The occupations specific to a Brahmin are studying, teaching, sacrificing, officiating at sacrifices, giving gifts, receiving gifts, inheriting, and gleaning, 5 as well as appropriating things that do not belong to anybody. 6 The occupations specific to a Kṣatriya are the same, with the exception of teaching, officiating at sacrifices, and receiving gifts, and the addition of meting out punishment and warfare. 7 The occupations specific to a Vaiśya are the same as those of a Kṣatriya, with the exception of meting out punishment and warfare, and the addition of agriculture, cattle herding, and trade. [A 2.10.4-7]

7 Śūdras are to serve the other classes; 8 the higher the class they serve, the greater their prosperity. [A 1.1.7-8]

अविहिता ब्राह्मणस्य वणिज्या ।10

10 Trade is not sanctioned for Brahmins. [A 1.20.10]

Gautama

द्विजातीनामध्ययनमिज्या दानम् ।1 ब्राह्मणस्याधिकाः प्रवचनयाजनप्रतिग्रहाः ।2 पूर्वेषु नियमस्तु ।3 आचार्यज्ञातिप्रियगुरुधनविद्याविनिमयेषु ब्रह्मणः संप्रदानमन्यत्र यथोक्तात् ।4 कृषिवाणिज्ये चास्वयंकृते ।5 कुसीदं च ।6 राज्ञोऽधिकं रक्षणं सर्वभूतानाम् ।7 न्याय्यदण्डत्वम् ।8 ... वैश्यस्याधिकं कृषिवणिक्पाशुपाल्यकुसीदम् ।49 शूद्रश्चतुर्थो वर्ण एकजातिः ।50 ... परिचर्या चोत्तरेषाम् ।56 ... सर्वे चोत्तरोत्तरं परिचरेयुः ।66 आर्यानार्ययोर्व्यतिक्षेपे कर्मणः साम्यम् ।67

1 Study, sacrifice, and giving gifts pertain to all twice-born classes. 2 In addition to these, teaching, officiating at sacrifices, and receiving gifts pertain to Brahmins, 3 but only the former are obligatory. 4 Vedic instruction may be imparted outside the above-mentioned rules to a teacher, relative, friend, or elder, or when it is imparted in exchange for knowledge or money. 5 A Brahmin may also engage in agriculture and trade if he does not do the work himself, 6 and in lending money on interest. 7 To a king pertain, in addition, the protection of all creatures, 8 as also meting out just punishment. ... 49 To a Vaiśya pertain in addition agriculture, trade, animal husbandry, and lending money on interest. ... 50 The Śūdra is the fourth class with a single birth. ... 56 And for him is prescribed the service of the higher classes. ... 66 All should serve the people belonging to classes higher than themselves. 67 If Āryas do the jobs of non-Āryas and vice versa, they become equal. [G 10.1-8; 49-50, 56, 66-67]

Baudhāyana

ब्रह्म वै स्वं महिमानं ब्राह्मणेष्वदधादध्ययनाध्यापनयजनयाजनदानप्रतिग्रहसंयुक्तं वेदानां गुप्त्यै ।2 क्षत्त्रे बलमध्ययनयजनदानशस्त्रकोशभूतरक्षणसंयुक्तं क्षत्रस्य वृद्ध्यै ।3 विट्स्वध्ययनयजनदानकृषिवाणिज्यपशुपालनसंयुक्तं कर्मणां वृद्ध्यै ।4 शूद्रेषु पूर्वेषां परिचर्याम् ।5 पत्तो ह्यसृज्यन्तेति ।6

2 Brahman, clearly, placed his grandeur in Brahmins along with the duties of studying and teaching, offering and officiating at sacrifices, and giving and receiving gifts, for the preservation of the Vedas. 3 In Kṣatriyas he placed his strength along with the duties of studying, offering sacrifices, giving gifts, using weapons, and protecting the treasury and creatures, for the enhancement of government. 4 In Vaiśyas he placed the duties of studying, offering sacrifices, giving gifts, agriculture, trade, and animal husbandry, for the enhancement of economic activity. 5 In Śūdras he placed the service of the higher classes, 6 for it is said, "they were created from his feet." [B 1.18.2-6]

वैश्यः कुसीदमुपजीवेत् ।21

21 A Vaiśya may live by lending money on interest. [B 1.10.21]

वेदः कृषिविनाशाय कृषिर्वेदविनाशिनी । शक्तिमानुभयं कुर्यादशक्तस्तु कृषिं त्यजेत् ॥30

30 Vedic study impedes agriculture, and agriculture impedes vedic study. A man who is able may pursue both, but if he is unable, he should give up agriculture. [B 1.10.30]

Vasiṣṭha

षट् कर्माणि ब्राह्मणस्य ।13 स्वाध्यायाध्ययनमध्यापनं यज्ञो याजनं दानं प्रतिग्रहश्चेति ।14 त्रीणि राजन्यस्य ।15 अध्ययनं यज्ञो दानं च ।16 शस्त्रेण च प्रजापालनं स्वधर्मस्तेन जीवेत् ।17 एतान्येव त्रीणि वैश्यस्य ।18 कृषिर्वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं कुसीदं च ।19 एतेषां परिचर्या शूद्रस्यानियता वृत्तिः ।20

13 A Brahmin has six occupations: 14 studying the Veda and teaching, offering sacrifices and officiating at sacrifices, giving and receiving gifts. 15 A Kṣatriya has three occupations: 16 studying, offering sacrifices, and giving gifts. 17 The Law specific to him is the protection of his subjects by the use of weapons; he should obtain his livelihood by this means. 18 The very same are the occupations of a Vaiśya, 19 and in addition agriculture, trade, animal husbandry, and lending money on interest. 20 To serve these classes is the unrestricted means of livelihood for Śūdras. [Va 2.13-20]

vi. Outcastes

Āpastamba

अथ पतनीयानि ।7 स्तेयमाभिशस्त्यं पुरुषवधो ब्रह्मोज्झं गर्भशातनं मातुः पितुरिति योनिसंबन्धे सहापत्ये स्त्रीगमनं सुरापानमसंयोगसंयोगः ।8 गुर्वीसखीं गुरुसखीं च गत्वान्यांश्च परतल्पान् ।9 नागुरुतल्पे पततीत्येके ।10 अधर्माणां तु सततमाचारः ।11

7 These are the actions causing loss of caste: 8 theft; acts causing infamy; homicide; neglect of the Vedas; abortion; sex with the siblings of one's mother or father or with their children; drinking liquor; sex with those with whom sex is forbidden; 9 sex with a friend of one's female or male elders or with the wife of another man—10 some maintain that there is no loss of caste when one has sex with a woman other than the wife of an elder; 11 and the persistent commission of unrighteous acts. [A 1.21.7-11]

अथाभिशस्ताः समवसाय चरेयुर्धार्म्यमिति सांशित्येतरेतरयाजका इतरेतराध्यापका मिथो विवहमानाः ।8 पुत्रान्संनिष्पाद्य ब्रूयुर्विप्रव्रजतास्मदेवं ह्यस्मत्स्वार्याः संप्रत्यपत्स्यतेति ।9 अथापि न सेन्द्रियः पतति ।10 तदेतेन वेदितव्यम् । अङ्गहीनो हि साङ्गं जनयति ।11 मिथ्यैतदिति हारीतः ।12 दधिधानीसधर्मा स्त्री भवति ।13 यो हि दधिधान्यामप्रयतं पय आतच्य मन्थति न तेन धर्मकृत्यं क्रियते । एवमशुचिशुक्रं यन्निर्वर्तते न तेन सह संप्रयोगो विद्यते ।14 अभिचारानुव्याहारावशुचिकरावपतनीयौ ।15 पतनीयाविति हारीतः ।16

8 Now, heinous sinners should live in a common settlement and, convinced that this is in keeping with the Law, they should officiate at each other's sacrifices, teach each other, and marry each other. 9 When they father sons, they should tell them: "Go away from us, for then you will be accepted from amongst us as Āryas." 10 When a man falls from his caste, moreover, his virile power does not fall with him, 11 the truth of which can be gathered from the fact that a man lacking a limb fathers a child possessing all the limbs. 12 "That is false," says Hārīta. 13 A wife is comparable to a curd-pot, 14 for if someone were to put impure milk into a curd-pot and mix in the curdling substance, that curd cannot be used for ritual purposes. In like manner, there can be no association with what is produced by the semen of a sordid man. 15 Sorcery and cursing make a man sordid but do not cause loss of caste, 16 "They do cause loss of caste," says Hārīta. [A 1.29.8-16]

Gautama

ब्रह्महसुरापगुरुतल्पगमातृपितृयोनिसंबन्धगस्तेननास्तिकनिन्दितकर्माभ्यासिपतितात्याग्यपतितत्यागिनः पतिताः ।1 पातकसंयोजकाश्च ।2 तैश्चाब्दं समाचरन् ।3

1 People who murder a Brahmin; drink liquor; have sex with the wife of an elder or with a woman who is related through his mother or father, or through marriage; steal gold; become infidels; habitually commit forbidden acts; refuse to disown someone fallen from his caste; or disown someone who has not fallen from his caste—these have fallen from their caste, 2 as also those who instigate sins causing loss of caste, 3 and those who associate with outcastes for a year. [G 21.1-3]

अपाङ्क्त्यानां तन्मन्त्रकृदवकीर्णिपतितसावित्रीकेषूपपातकम् ।11

11 People who defile those alongside whom they eat and listed before a bald man; people who kill cows, forget the Veda, or recite sacred formulas for such people; students who break their vow of chastity; and those who let the time for their initiation lapse—these are guilty of secondary sins causing loss of caste. [G 21.11]

Baudhāyana

अथ पतनीयानि ।1 समुद्रसंयानम् ।2 ब्रह्मस्वन्यासापहरणम् ।3 भूम्यनृतम् ।4 सर्वपण्यैर्व्यवहरणम् ।5 शूद्रसेवनम् ।6 शूद्राभिजननम् ।7 तदपत्यत्वं च ।8

1 Next, the sins causing loss of caste: 2 undertaking a sea voyage; 3 stealing a Brahmin's property or a deposit; 4 bearing false witness with regard to land; 5 trading in all sorts of merchandise; 6 serving Śūdras; 7 fathering children by a Śūdra woman; 8 and becoming a child of a Śūdra. [B 2.2.1-8]

अथोपपातकानि ।12 अगम्यागमनं गुर्वीसखीं गुरुसखीमपपात्रां पतितां च गत्वा भेषजकरणं ग्रामयाजनं रङ्गोपजीवनं नाट्याचार्यता गोमहिषीरक्षणं यच्चान्यदप्येवंयुक्तं कन्यादूषणमिति ।13

12 Next, the secondary sins causing loss of caste: 13 sexual intercourse with a woman with whom sex is forbidden; sexual intercourse with a woman friend of a female or male elder, with a degraded woman, or with an outcaste woman; practicing medicine; officiating at a sacrifice offered by several individuals; obtaining one's livelihood by staging theatrical performances; teaching dance; looking after cattle and buffaloes; and other similar professions, as well as violating virgins. [B 2.2.12-13]

अथ पतिताः समवसाय धर्मांश्चरेयुरितरेतरयाजका इतरेतराध्यापका मिथो विवहमानाः । पुत्रान्संनिष्पाद्य ब्रूयुर्विप्रव्रजतास्मत्त एवमार्यान्संप्रतिपत्स्यथेति ।18 अथापि न सेन्द्रियः पतति ।19 तदेतेन वेदितव्यम् । अङ्गहीनोऽपि साङ्गं जनयेत् ।20 मिथ्यैतदिति हारीतः ।21 दधिधानीसधर्माः स्त्रियः स्युः । यो हि दधिधान्यामप्रयतं पय आतच्य मन्थति न तच्छिष्टा धर्मकृत्येषूपयोजयन्ति ।22 एवमशुचिशुक्रं यन्निर्वर्तते न तेन सह संप्रयोगो विद्यते ।23

18 Living in a common settlement, outcastes should carry out their duties, officiating at each other's sacrifices, teaching each other, and marrying each other. When they father sons, they should tell them: "Go away from us, for then you will attach yourself to the Āryas." 19 When a man falls from his caste, moreover, his virile power does not fall with him, 20 the truth of which can be gathered from the fact that a man lacking a limb fathers a child possessing all the limbs. 21 "That is false," says Harīta. 22 Wives are comparable to curd-pots, for if someone were to put impure milk into a curd-pot and mix in the curdling substance, cultured people do not use it for ritual purposes. 23 In like manner, there can be no association with what is produced by the semen of a sordid man. [B 2.2.18-23]

Vasiṣṭha

क्लीबोन्मत्तपतिताश्च ।53

53 Those who are impotent, mad, or fallen from their caste also [do not obtain shares of the inheritance]. [Va 17.53]

vii. Excommunication from Caste

Gautama

त्यजेत्पितरं राजघातकं शूद्रयाजकं शूद्रार्थयाजकं वेदविप्लावकं भ्रूणहनं यश्चान्त्यावसायिभिः सह संवसेदन्त्यावसायिन्याम् ।1 तस्य विद्यागुरून् योनिसंबन्धांश्च संनिपात्य सर्वाण्युदकादीनि प्रेतकर्माणि कुर्युः ।2 पात्रं चास्य विपर्यस्येयुः ।3 दासः कर्मकरो वावकरादमेध्यपात्रमानीय दासीघटात्पूरयित्वा दक्षिणामुखः पदा विपर्यस्येदमुमनुदकं करोमीति नामग्राहम् ।4 तं सर्वेऽन्वालभेरन् प्राचीनावीतिनो मुक्तशिखाः ।5 विद्यागुरवो योनिसंबन्धाश्च वीक्षेरन् ।6 अप उपस्पृश्य ग्रामं प्रविशन्ति ।7

1 A man should disown a father who assassinates a king; sacrifices for a Śūdra; uses a Śūdra's money for a sacrifice; confounds the Veda; is an abortionist; lives with very low caste men; or cohabits with a woman of a very low caste. 2 Assembling the father's vedic teachers and blood relations, they should perform on his behalf all the funerary rites, beginning with the offering of water, 3 and overturn the water pot for him. 4 A slave or a workman should bring a dirty pot from a garbage dump, fill it with water from a slave woman's pot, and, facing the south, overturn it with his foot, pronouncing the man's name and saying, "I deprive that man of water". 5 All of them, their upper garments slung over their right shoulders and under their left arms and their topknots untied, should touch that slave, 6 while the vedic teachers and blood relations look on. 7 They should then bathe and enter the village. [G 20.1-7]

द्विजातिकर्मभ्यो हानिः पतनम् ।4 परत्र चासिद्धिः ।5 तमेके नरकम् ।6

4 Falling from one's caste entails exclusion from the occupations of twice-born people 5 and going empty-handed into the next world. 6 Some call this condition "hell". [G 21.4-6]

अज्ञानाध्यापनाद् ऋत्विगाचार्यौ पतनीयसेवायां च हेयौ ।12 अन्यत्र हानात् पतति ।13 तस्य च प्रतिग्रहीतेत्येके ।14 न कर्हिचिन्मातापित्रोरवृत्तिः ।15 दायं तु न भजेरन् ।16

12 One should disown an officiating priest or a teacher who is ignorant or does not teach, or who commits a sin causing loss of caste. 13 If anyone disowns them for other reasons, he falls from his caste, 14 as also, according to some, all those who receive him. 15 A man shall never deprive his father or mother of sustenance, 16 but he should not accept any share of their estate. [G 21.12-16]

Baudhāyana

अथास्य ज्ञातयः परिषद्युदपात्रं निनयेयुरसावहमित्थंभूत इति ।36

36 Now, his relatives should turn over the water pot at a formal assembly, while he says: "I, so-and-so, am guilty of this." [B 2.1.36]

न पतितैः संव्यवहारो विद्यते ।41 पतितामपि तु मातरं बिभृयादनभिभाषमाणः ।42

41 No association is permitted with outcastes. 42 Even if she has become an outcaste, however, a man should support his own mother, but without speaking with her. [B 2.3.41-2]

अथाप्युदाहरन्ति । चण्डालीं ब्राह्मणो गत्वा भुक्त्वा च प्रतिगृह्य च । अज्ञानात्पतितो विप्रो ज्ञानात्तु समतां व्रजेत् ॥14

14 Now, they also quote: "When a Brahmin has sex with a Cāṇḍāla woman, eats her food, or accepts gifts from her without knowing that she is a Cāṇḍāla, he falls from his caste; whereas if he does so knowingly, he sinks to the same level as she." [B 2.4.14]

Vasiṣṭha

वेदविप्लावकः शूद्रयाजक उत्तमवर्णवर्गपतिताः तेषां पात्रनिनयनम् ।11 अवकराद् अकृत्स्नं पात्रमादाय दासोऽसवर्णापुत्रो वा बन्धुरसदृशो वा गुणहीनः सव्येन पादेन प्रवृत्ताग्रान् दर्भाँल्लोहितान् वोपस्तीर्य पूर्णपात्रमस्मै निनयेत् ।12 निनेतारं चास्य प्रकीर्णकेशा ज्ञातयोऽन्वालभेरन् ।13 अपसव्यं कृत्वा गृहेषु स्वैरमापद्येरन् ।14 अत ऊर्ध्वं न तं धर्मयेयुः ।15 तद्धर्माणस्तं धर्मयन्तः ।16

11 A man who confounds the Veda, someone who officiates at a Śūdra's sacrifice, and those who have fallen from the whole group of the highest classes—for them there is the rite of overturning the water pot. 12 A slave, a son from a wife of a different class, or a relative of a different class lacking good qualities should fetch a broken pot from a garbage dump; spread on the ground some Darbha grass or Lohita grass with their tips cut off; and overturn the pot filled with water with his left foot for that person. 13 And his relatives, their hair dishevelled, should touch the man who overturned the pot. 14 They may then return home as they wish, turning their left side towards that place. 15 From that time onwards they should not let him participate in their religious activities. 16 Those who let him participate become his equals. [Va 15.11-16]

पतितः पिता परित्याज्यो माता तु पुत्रं प्रति न पतति ।47 ... भार्या पुत्राश्च शिष्याश्च संसृष्टाः पापकर्मभिः । परिभाष्य परित्याज्याः पतितो योऽन्यथा त्यजेत् ॥49 ऋत्विगाचार्यावयाजकानध्यापकौ हेयावन्यत्र हानात्पतति ।50 पतितेनोत्पन्नः पतितो भवतीत्याहुरन्यत्र स्त्रियाः ।51 सा हि परगामिनी ।52 तामरिक्थ्यामुपेयात् ।53

47 A father should be forsaken when he becomes an outcaste, whereas a mother is never an outcaste to her son. ... 49 One should first reprimand a wife, sons, or pupils who have become involved in sinful activities, and only thereafter should one forsake them. If someone forsakes them otherwise, he himself becomes an outcaste. 50 A man should disown an officiating priest or a teacher who neglects to officiate at sacrifices or to teach the Veda; if he does not, he becomes an outcaste. 51 They say that a son born to an outcaste becomes an outcaste himself, but not a daughter, 52 for she betakes herself to an outsider. 53 One may marry such a girl without taking a dowry. [Va 13.47, 49-53]

viii. Association with Outcastes

Āpastamba

यथा चाण्डालोपस्पर्शने संभाषायां दर्शने च दोषस्तत्र प्रायश्चित्तम् ।8 अवगाहनमपामुपस्पर्शने संभाषायां ब्राह्मणसंभाषा दर्शने ज्योतिषां दर्शनम् ।9

8 As it is a sin to touch a Cāṇḍāla, so is it to speak to or to look at one. These are the expiations for such offenses: 9 for touching, submerging completely in water; for speaking, speaking to a Brahmin; for looking, looking at the heavenly lights. [A 2.2.8-9]

न पतितैः संव्यवहारो विद्यते ।5 तथापपात्रैः ।6

5 Social interaction with outcastes is not permitted, 6 as also with degraded people. [A 1.21.5-6]

न पतितमाचार्यं ज्ञातिं वा दर्शनार्थो गच्छेत् ।6 न चास्माद्भोगानुपयुञ्जीत ।7 यदृच्छासंनिपात उपसंगृह्य तूष्णीं व्यतिव्रजेत् ।8 माता पुत्रत्वस्य भूयाँसि कर्माण्यारभते । तस्यां शुश्रूषा नित्या पतितायामपि ।9 न तु धर्मसंनिपातः स्यात् ।10

6 Let him not visit a teacher or relative who has fallen from his caste with the intention of seeing him 7 or accept anything of value from him. 8 If he meets such a person accidentally, he should clasp his feet and go away silently. 9 A mother does countless things to bring about male progeny. So, even if she has fallen from her caste, he must always serve her, 10 but not let her participate in any of his religious activities. [A 1.28.6-10]

Gautama

अत ऊर्ध्वं तेन संभाष्य तिष्ठेदेकरात्रं जपन्सावित्रीमज्ञानपूर्वम् ।8 ज्ञानपूर्वं चेत् त्रिरात्रम् ।9

8 Thereafter [after excommunication], if someone were to speak with that man, he should remain standing reciting the Sāvitrī verse for one night if it was done unintentionally, 9 and for three nights if it was done intentionally. [G 20.8-9]

सार्ववर्णिकं भैक्षचरणमभिशस्तपतितवर्जम् ।35

35 Almsfood may be obtained from people of all classes, excepting heinous sinners and outcastes. [G 2.35]

पतितचण्डालसूतिकोदक्याशवस्पृष्टितत्स्पृष्ट्युपस्पर्शने सचेलोदकोपस्पर्शनाच्छुध्येत् ।30

30 When a man touches an outcaste, a Cāṇḍāla, a woman who has just given birth or is menstruating, a corpse, or someone who has touched any of these, he becomes purified by bathing with his clothes on. [G 14.30]

न भोजयेत्स्तेनक्लीबपतित ... ।16

16 He should not feed the following: a thief, a man who is impotent, an outcaste .... [G 15.16]

श्वचण्डालपतितावेक्षणे दुष्टम् ।24

24 (An ancestral offering) is ruined if it is seen by a dog, a Cāṇḍāla, or an outcaste. [G 15.24]

Baudhāyana

वेदविक्रयिणं यूपं पतितं चितिमेव च । स्पृष्ट्वा समाचरेत्स्नानं श्वानं चण्डालमेव च ॥36

36 If someone touches a man who sells the Veda, a sacrificial post, an outcaste, a funeral pyre, a dog, or a Cāṇḍāla, he should take a bath. [B 1.11.36]

अथाप्युदाहरन्ति । गुरुसंकरिणश्चैव शिष्यसंकरिणश्च ये ।

आहारमन्त्रसंकीर्णा दीर्घं तम उपासत इति ॥9

9 Now, they also quote: "People who associate with an (outcaste) teacher or pupil, or who associates (with outcastes) by eating their food or performing religious services for them sink into deep darkness." [B 2.5.9]

पतिततज्जातवर्जम् ।40 न पतितैः संव्यवहारो विद्यते ।41 पतितामपि तु मातरं बिभृयादनभिभाषमाणः ।42

40 [They should maintain the legally incompetent] but not those who have fallen from their caste or the offspring of such persons. 41 No association is permitted with outcastes. 42 Even if she has become an outcaste, however, a man should support his own mother, but without speaking with her. [B 2.3.40-2]

संवत्सरेण पतति पतितेन समाचरन् । याजनाध्यापनाद्यौनान्न

तु यानासनाशनादिति ॥35

35 When someone associates with an outcaste—not, however, by officiating at his sacrifices, by teaching him, or by contracting a marriage with him—but by travelling in the same vehicle or sitting on the same seat as he, or by eating together with him, he himself becomes an outcaste within a year. [B 2.2.35]

Vasiṣṭha

पतितसंप्रयोगे च ब्राह्मेण वा यौनेन वा यास्तेभ्यः सकाशान्मात्रा उपलब्धास्तासां परित्यागः । तैश्च न संवसेत् ।45 उदीचीं दिशं गत्वानश्नन् संहिताध्ययनमधीयानः पूतो भवतीति विज्ञायते ।46

45 When someone has established a vedic or matrimonial alliance with outcastes, he should give up any articles he may have received from them and cease associating with them. 46 "He becomes purified by going towards the north and reciting a vedic Collection of Hymns without eating any food," says the Veda. [Va 20.45-6]

गुर्वीं सखीं गुरुसखीमपपात्रां पतितां च गत्वा कृच्छ्राब्दपादं चरेत् ।16 एतदेव चाण्डालपतितान्नभोजनेषु ततः पुनरुपनयनं वपनादीनां तु निवृत्तिः ।17

16 If someone has sex with a female elder, a female friend, a female friend of an elder, a degraded woman, or an outcaste woman, he should perform an arduous penance for three months. 17 The same applies for eating the food of a Cāṇḍāla or an outcaste. Afterwards he should be re-initiated; the shaving and other similar rites, however, are omitted. [Va 20.16-17]

... पतितानामन्नमभोज्यम् ।2

2 The food of outcastes is unfit to be eaten. [Va 14.2]

ix. Re-admission to Caste

Āpastamba

अधर्माहृतान् भोगाननुज्ञाय न वयं चाधर्मश्चेत्यभिव्याहृत्याधोनाभ्युपरिजान्वाच्छाद्य त्रिषवणमुदकमुपस्पृशन्नक्षीराक्षारालवणं भुञ्जानो द्वादश वर्षाणि नागारं प्रविशेत् ।11 ततः सिद्धिः ।12 अथ संप्रयोगः स्यादार्यैः ।13 एतदेवान्येषामपि पतनीयानाम् ।14

11 He should separate himself from anything of value that he has obtained unrighteously, proclaiming "We and unrighteousness don't go together!"; wear a piece of cloth from his navel to his knees; bathe three times a day at dawn, noon, and dusk; eat food without milk, spices, or salt; and not enter a house for twelve years. 12 After that he becomes cleansed, 13 and thereafter he may associate with Āryas. 14 This same penance applies also to other sins causing loss of caste. [A 1.28.11-14]

Gautama

यस्तु प्रायश्चित्तेन शुध्येत्तस्मिञ्छुद्धे शातकुम्भमयं पात्रं पुण्यतमाद्ध्रदात्पूरयित्वा स्रवन्तीभ्यो वा तत एनमप उपस्पर्शयेयुः ।10 अथास्मै तत्पात्रं दद्युस्तत्प्रतिगृह्य जपेच्छान्ता द्यौः शान्ता पृथिवी शान्तं शिवमन्तरिक्षं यो रोचनस्तमिह गृह्णामीति ।11 एतैर्यजुर्भिः पावमानीभिस्तरत्समन्दीभिः कूष्माण्डैश्चाज्यं जुहुयात् ।12 हिरण्यं ब्राह्मणाय दद्याद् गां वा ।13 आचार्याय च ।14 यस्य तु प्राणान्तिकं प्रायश्चित्तं स मृतः शुध्येत् ।15 सर्वाण्येव तस्मिन्नुदकादीनि प्रेतकर्माणि कुर्युः ।16 एतदेव शान्त्युदकं सर्वेषूपपातकेषु ।17

10 An excommunicated man may be purified by performing a penance, however, and when he has been so purified, they should fill a golden pot with water from a very sacred lake or from a river and make the man take a bath with the water from that pot. 11 They should then give that pot to him. Taking that pot, he should pray silently: "The sky is appeased, the mid-space is appeased and auspicious, the earth is appeased. I here take hold of the radiant one." 12 Reciting these Yajus formulas, as well as the Pāvamānī, Taratsamandī, and Kūṣmāṇḍa verses, he should offer ghee in the sacred fire. 13 He should then give gold or a cow to a Brahmin, 14 as well as to his teacher. 15 A man whose penance lasts until death, on the other hand, becomes pure only after he dies. 16 They should perform for him all the funerary rites beginning with the offering of water. 17 The same rite of bathing with water consecrated by the "appeasement" formulas given above is to be performed for all secondary sins causing loss of caste. [G 20.10-17]

Baudhāyana

चरित्वापः पयो घृतं मधु लवणमित्यारब्धवन्तं ब्राह्मणा ब्रूयुश्चरितं त्वयेति । ओमितीतरः प्रत्याह । चरितनिर्वेशं सवनीयं कुर्युः ।36

36 After he has undergone the penance and touched water, milk, ghee, honey, and salt, Brahmins should ask him: "Have you undergone the penance?" He should reply, "Yes." After he has undergone the penance, they should let him participate in sacrifices. [B 2.1.36]

Vasiṣṭha

पतितानां तु चरितव्रतानां प्रत्युद्धारः ।17 अथाप्युदाहरन्ति । अग्रेऽभ्युद्धरतां गच्छेत्क्रीडन्निव हसन्निव । पश्चात् पातयतां गच्छेच्छोचन्निव रुदन्निवेति ।18 आचार्यमातृपितृहन्तारस्तत्प्रसादादपयाप्याद्वा ।19 एषा तेषां प्रत्यापत्तिः । पुण्यह्रदात् प्रसृताद्वा काञ्चनं पात्रं माहेयं वा पूरयित्वापोहिष्ठाभिरेनमद्भिरभिषिञ्चन्ति ।20 सर्व एवा-

भिषिक्तस्य प्रत्युद्धारः पुत्रजन्मना व्याख्यात इति ।21

17 Outcastes who have performed the penance, however, may be readmitted. 18 Now, they also quote: "He should walk in front of those who are readmitting him, displaying revelry and laughter, and behind those who are excommunicating him, displaying grief and lamentation." 19 A person who has assaulted his teacher, mother, or father may be readmitted through the compassion of these people or by performing an expiation. 20 This is how such people are readmitted. They should fill a gold or clay pot with water from a full lake or a flowing river and pour it over him while reciting the verses "Waters, you are refreshing ... ". 21 The discussion about the birth of a son gives all the rites to be performed upon the readmission of a person who has been bathed in this manner. [Va 15.17-21]