FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.21

अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयमकामक्रोधलोभता । भूतप्रियहितेहा च धर्मोऽयं सार्ववर्णिक: ॥ २१ ॥
ahiṁsā satyam asteyam
[ahimsaa satyam asteyam]
akāma-krodha-lobhatā
[akaama-krodha-lobhataa]
bhūta-priya-hitehā ca
[bhoota-priya-hitehaa cha]
dharmo ’yaṁ sārva-varṇikaḥ
[dharmo ’yam saarva-varnikah]
ahiṁsā — nonviolence satyam — truthfulness asteyam — honesty a-kāma-krodha-lobhatā — being free from lust, anger and greed bhūta — of all living entities priya — the happiness hita — and welfare īhā — desiring ca — also dharmaḥ — duty ayam — this sārva-varṇikaḥ — for all members of society.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ahiṁsā satyam asteyam
ahiṁsā
nonviolence
satyam
truthfulness
asteyam
honesty
a-kāma-krodha-lobhatā
being free from lust, anger and greed
akāma-krodha-lobhatā
bhūta
of all living entities
bhūta-priya-hitehā ca
priya
the happiness
hita
and welfare
īhā
desiring
ca
also
dharmo ’yaṁ sārva-varṇikaḥ
dharmaḥ
duty
ayam
this
sārva-varṇikaḥ
for all members of society.
Nonviolence, truthfulness, honesty, desire for the happiness and welfare of all others and freedom from lust, anger and greed constitute duties for all members of society.

The word sārva-varṇika indicates that the above-mentioned principles constitute general piety, which should be observed by all members of society, even those outside the varṇāśrama system. We practically find that even in societies that have fallen away from the varṇāśrama system, the above-mentioned principles are honored and encouraged. Such principles do not constitute a specific path of liberation but are perennial virtues in human society.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nonviolence, truthfulness, honesty, desire for the happiness and welfare of all others and freedom from lust, anger and greed constitute duties for all members of society. Though it says that these are the common rules for all varṇas, it also means that those outside the varṇas should follow these rules.
Nonviolence, truthfulness, honesty, desire for others' welfare, freedom from lust, anger, greed — duties for all members of society regardless of class. There is a baseline shared by everyone.
Reflection Questions
  • Which baseline duty am I treating as optional?
  • What would respecting it as fundamental change?
📝 My note

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