traditionally, shudras were peasants and artisans. the ancient texts designate the shudra as a peasant. shudras were described as the giver of grain and ancient texts describe a shudra's mode of earning as being "by the sickle and ears of corn". the ancient precept, "vedas are destroyer of agriculture and agriculture is destroyer of vedas", is shown as one of the reasons as to why the shudras were not allowed to learn vedas. the fact that peasants were held as shudras is also documented by chinese traveller xuanzang in the 7th century. also, an "outcaste" who entered the profession of agriculture would be absorbed in the shudra varna.