FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.49

शूद्रवृत्तिं भजेद् वैश्य: शूद्र: कारुकटक्रियाम् । कृच्छ्रान्मुक्तो न गर्ह्येण वृत्तिं लिप्सेत कर्मणा ॥ ४९ ॥
śūdra-vṛttiṁ bhajed vaiśyaḥ
[shoodra-vrittim bhajed vaishyah]
śūdraḥ kāru-kaṭa-kriyām
[shoodrah kaaru-kata-kriyaam]
kṛcchrān mukto na garhyeṇa
[krichchraan mukto na garhyena]
vṛttiṁ lipseta karmaṇā
[vrittim lipseta karmanaa]
Word-for-word
śūdra — of the śūdras vṛttim — occupation bhajet — may accept vaiśyaḥ — a vaiśya śūdraḥ — a śūdra kāru — of the artisan kaṭa — straw baskets and mats kriyām — making kṛcchrāt — from the difficult situation muktaḥ — freed na — not garhyeṇa — by that which is inferior vṛttim — livelihood lipseta — one should desire karmaṇā — by work.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śūdra-vṛttiṁ bhajed vaiśyaḥ
śūdra
of the śūdras
vṛttim
occupation
bhajet
may accept
vaiśyaḥ
a vaiśya
śūdraḥ kāru-kaṭa-kriyām
śūdraḥ
a śūdra
kāru
of the artisan
kaṭa
straw baskets and mats
kriyām
making
kṛcchrān mukto na garhyeṇa
kṛcchrāt
from the difficult situation
muktaḥ
freed
na
not
garhyeṇa
by that which is inferior
vṛttiṁ lipseta karmaṇā
vṛttim
livelihood
lipseta
one should desire
karmaṇā
by work.
A vaiśya, or mercantile man, who cannot maintain himself may adopt the occupation of a śūdra, and a śūdra who cannot find a master can engage in simple activities like making baskets and mats of straw. However, all members of society who have adopted inferior occupations in emergency situations must give up those substitute occupations when the difficulties have passed.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A vaiśya, or mercantile man, who cannot maintain himself may adopt the occupation of a śūdra, and a śūdra who cannot find a master can engage in simple activities like making baskets and mats of straw. However, all members of society must give up those substitute occupations when the difficulties have passed. All these people, when free of difficulties, must revert to their original occupation.
Personal Guidance
A vaiśya in trouble may live as a śūdra, a śūdra without a master may make baskets and mats — but those in emergency-jobs should return to their natural work when the trouble passes. Temporary measures are temporary.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I treated a 'temporary' work arrangement as permanent identity?
  • What would returning to my natural work require?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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