The Markandeya Purana (Study)
by Chandamita Bhattacharya | 2021 | 67,501 words
This page relates ‘Division of Varna (D): The Shudras’ of the study on the Markandeya Purana, one of the oldest of the eigtheen Mahapuranas preserving the history, civilisation, culture and traditions of ancient India. The Markandeyapurana commences with the questions raised by Rishi Jaimini (a pupil of Vyasa), who approaches the sage Markandeya with doubts related to the Mahabharata. This study examines various social topics such as the status of women, modes of worship, yoga, etc.
Division of Varṇa (D): The Śūdras
The Śūdra is the fourth of the four Varṇas. According to the Pūruṣasūkta of the ṚgvedaŚū dras sprang from the feet of the creator.[1] The information about Śūdras are also very meagre in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. Śūdra[2] and vṛṣala[3] are the two terms used to denote this order.
Other terms for Śūdravarṇa, found in some Purāṇas are:
Manu also used the term antyaja in the sense of Śūdra.[5] In the Matsyapurāṇa, antya-janman is used in the sense of the Śūdra Varṇa.[6] The service of the twice-born[7] is the chief duty of the Śūdras. Besides alms-giving, the service of twice-born, handicraft and buying and selling are the special duties assigned to the Śūdras.[8] A man’s duty, as the Gītā says, is to perform his duties religiously that he attains from his birth through his varṇa or class. These duties are considered far better from the duties of another class even if it is not performed well.[9]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 10.22
[3]:
Ibid., 28.30; 134.27
[4]:
S.G. Kantawala, Studies in Purānas, p.132
[6]:
Matsyapurāṇa, 207.19
[7]:
Manusmṛti, 10.121-122; Yājñavalkyasmṛti, 1.120
[8]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 25.7-8; 47.77
[9]:
Bhāgavadgītā, 18. 41-47