Canto 11: General HistoryChapter 17: Lord Krishna's Description of the Varnāśrama System

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.17.48

vaiśya-vrittyā tu rājanyo

jīven mrigayayāpadi

cared vipra-rūpena

na śva-vrittyā kathańcana

SYNONYMS

vaiśya — of the mercantile class; vrittyā — by the occupation; tu — indeed; rājanyaha king; jīvet — may maintain himself; mrigayayā — by hunting; āpadiin an emergency or disastrous situation; caret — may act; — or; vipra-rūpenain the form of a brāhmana; na — never; śva — of the dog; vrittyā — by the profession; kathańcanain any circumstance.

TRANSLATION

A king or other member of the royal order who cannot maintain himself by his normal occupation may act as a vaiśya, may live by hunting or may act as a brāhmana by teaching others Vedic knowledge. But he may not under any circumstances adopt the profession of a śūdra.

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