I originally wrote this post last year to be released on Manusmriti dahan diwas (25 december) but never finished writing it unfortunately. But now with the Madras HC CJ saying that Manusmriti should be taught as students are unaware of their "roots" I think this is the perfect time to post this draft.

This is not an exhaustive coverage of manusmriti, this is just my attempt at shedding light on what all nonsense is written in the book. I have provided multiple sources for the verses (WisdomLib and Sacred texts) wherever possible since I know sanghis love to make it a translation issue. For them no pandit or sanskrit scholar in the last 2500 years (Manusmriti is said to be written around 300BCE) whether Indian or foreign has done an accurate translation. They love to say that the meaning somehow got lost in translation. If the translation is being done by some foreign author, he is anti india, what does he know about our culture?? If it is done by an Indian, he is commie, librandu, leftist blah blah. If you meet someone like this don't waste your time trying to convince them, they are brain dead.

Anyway here it goes

I. Inherent Servitude & Social Hierarchy

• Manu 1.91 “For the Śūdra the Lord ordained only one function: the ungrudging service of the said castes.” 'said castes’ refer to the Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya and Vaiśya (WisdomLib - 1.91)

• Manu 10.121-129 121. If a Sudra, (unable to subsist by serving Brahmanas,) seeks a livelihood, he may serve Kshatriyas, or he may also seek to maintain himself by attending on a wealthy Vaisya. (Sacred-texts Ch.10)

• 122. But let a (Sudra) serve Brahmanas, either for the sake of heaven, or with a view to both (this life and the next); for he who is called the servant of a Brahmana thereby gains all his ends. (Sacred-texts Ch.10)

• 123. The service of Brahmanas alone is declared (to be) an excellent occupation for a Sudra; for whatever else besides this he may perform will bear him no fruit. " (WisdomLib)

• 10.125: "Brahmins to give Shudras food leftovers, old torn clothes, spoiled grain and old furniture." (Wisdom Lib)

• 129. No collection of wealth must be made by a Sudra, even though he be able (to do it); for a Sudra who has acquired wealth, gives pain to Brahmanas. (WisdomLib)

•  Sacred-texts Ch.10

II. Slavery

• Chapter 8 Verse 22. That kingdom where Sudras are very numerous, which is infested by atheists and destitute of twice-born (inhabitants), soon entirely perishes, afflicted by famine and disease.

• Chapter 8 Verse 413. But a Sudra, whether bought or unbought, he may compel to do servile work; for he was created by the Self-existent (Svayambhu) to be the slave of a Brahmana.

• Chapter 8 Verse 414. A Sudra, though emancipated by his master, is not released from servitude; since that is innate in him, who can set him free from it?

• Chapter 8 Verse 417. A Brahmana may confidently seize the goods of (his) Sudra (slave); for, as that (slave) can have no property, his master may take his possessions.

• (Sacred-texts Ch. 8)

III. Education & Knowledge Apartheid

• Chapter 4 verse 80. Let him not give to a Sudra advice, nor the remnants (of his meal), nor food offered to the gods; nor let him explain the sacred law (to such a man), nor impose (upon him) a penance.

• Chapter 4 verse 81. For he who explains the sacred law (to a Sudra) or dictates to him a penance, will sink together with that (man) into the hell (called) Asamvrita.

• Chapter 4 verse 99. Let him not recite (the texts) indistinctly, nor in the presence of Sudras; nor let him, if in the latter part of the night he is tired with reciting the Veda, go again to sleep.

• Sacred-texts Ch.4

• Manu 3.156 "He who instructs Shudra pupils and he whose teacher is a Shudra shall become disqualified for being invited to a shradha." WisdomLib - 3.156

V. Violent Punishments for 'Insolence'

• 8.270: If a once-born person insults a twice-born one with gross abuse, he should suffer the cutting off of his tongue; as he is of low origin

• 8.271: If he mentions the name and caste of these men with scorn, a burning iron nail ten inches long shall be thrust into his mouth

• 8.272: If through arrogance, he teaches brāhmaṇas their duty, the king shall pour heated oil into his mouth and ears. WisdomLib - 8.270, 8.271, 8.272

• 9.248 "If a low-born person intentionally harasses a Brāhmaṇa, the King shall strike him with various terror-striking forms of corporal punishment." WisdomLib - 9.248

VI. Sexual Regulation & Reproductive Control

• Manu 8.374 "A śūdra having intercourse with a twice-born woman, protected or unprotected, shall be deprived of his limb and his whole property, in the case of the unprotected woman, and of everything in that of the protected." WisdomLib - 8.374

VII. Political Exclusion & Governance

• Manu 8.20 "20. A Brahmana who subsists only by the name of his caste (gati), or one who merely calls himself a Brahmana (though his origin be uncertain), may, at the king's pleasure, interpret the law to him, but never a Sudra.

• Manu 8.21 "The Kingdom of that monarch, who looks on while a Shudra settles the law, will sink low like a cow in the morass."

• Sacred-texts Ch. 8

• Manu 4.61 "Let him not dwell in a country where the rulers are Sudras, nor in one which is surrounded by unrighteous men, nor in one which has become subject to heretics, nor in one swarming with men of the lowest castes."

• Sacred-texts Ch. 4

VIII. Outcaste/Chandala

• Manu 10.12, 10.16, 10.26, 10.38, 10.39 Classification of Chandalas as "lowest of men" born from "confusion of castes." Sacred-texts Ch.10

• Manu 10.51 "But the dwellings of Kandalas and Svapakas shall be outside the village, they must be made Apapatras, and their wealth (shall be) dogs and donkeys." Sacred-texts 10.51, WisdomLib

• Manu 3.239 "A Candala, a village pig, a cock, a dog, a menstruating woman, and a eunuch must not look at the Brahmanas while they eat." WisdomLib

• Manu 10.54 "Their food should be given to them, through others, and in a broken dish; they shall not wander about in villages or cities during the night." WisdomLib

IX. Ritualistic Dehumanization

• Manu 2.31 "The name of the Brāhmaṇa should be auspicious, that of the Kṣatriya connected with power, that of the Vaiśya associated with wealth; while that of the Śūdra contemptible." WisdomLib - 2.31, 

• Manu 2.32 The name of the Brāhmaṇa should be expressive of ‘peace,’ that of the Kṣatriya, of ‘protection’; that ot the Vaiśya, of ‘prosperity,’ and that of the Śūdra, of ‘submissiveness.’ WisdomLib 2.32

• Manu 5.84 After having touched the Cāndāla, the menstruating woman, the outcast, the woman in child-bed, the dead body, or toucher thereof—one becomes pure by bathing. WisdomLib

• Manu 3.249. The foolish man who, after having eaten a Sraddha (-dinner), gives the leavings to a Sudra, falls headlong into the Kalasutra hell. (Sacred texts Ch. 3)

At this point I gave up. Digging up so many casteist verses is not good for my mental health you know :)