FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.48

वैश्यवृत्त्या तु राजन्यो जीवेन्मृगययापदि । चरेद् वा विप्ररूपेण न श्ववृत्त्या कथञ्चन ॥ ४८ ॥
vaiśya-vṛttyā tu rājanyo
[vaishya-vrittyaa tu raajanyo]
jīven mṛgayayāpadi
[jeeven mrigayayaapadi]
cared vā vipra-rūpeṇa
[chared vaa vipra-roopena]
na śva-vṛttyā kathañcana
[na shva-vrittyaa kathanchana]
Word-for-word
vaiśya — of the mercantile class vṛttyā — by the occupation tu — indeed rājanyaḥ — a king jīvet — may maintain himself mṛgayayā — by hunting āpadi — in an emergency or disastrous situation caret — may act vā — or vipra-rūpeṇa — in the form of a brāhmaṇa na — never śva — of the dog vṛttyā — by the profession kathañcana — in any circumstance.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vaiśya-vṛttyā tu rājanyo
vaiśya
of the mercantile class
vṛttyā
by the occupation
tu
indeed
rājanyaḥ
a king
jīven mṛgayayāpadi
jīvet
may maintain himself
mṛgayayā
by hunting
āpadi
in an emergency or disastrous situation
cared vā vipra-rūpeṇa
caret
may act
vā
or
vipra-rūpeṇa
in the form of a brāhmaṇa
na
never
na śva-vṛttyā kathañcana
śva
of the dog
vṛttyā
by the profession
kathañcana
in any circumstance.
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 brāhmaṇa by teaching others Vedic knowledge. But he may not under any circumstances adopt the profession of a śūdra.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A king or other member of the royal order who cannot maintain himself by his normal occupation may act as a vaiśya, or by hunting, or may act as a brāhmaṇa by teaching others Vedic knowledge. But he may not under any circumstances adopt the profession of a śūdra. He may teach others the Vedas as a brāhmaṇa does.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
A king who cannot live by his work may act as a vaiśya, hunter, or even a brāhmaṇa-teacher — but never as a śūdra. Descent has limits.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I tempted to take any work to survive without considering what I am suited for?
  • How can role-integrity guide difficult choices?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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