− | The Manusmrti and the Bhagavata Purana say that a person may subsist by Rta, Amrta, Mrta, Pramrta or by Satya and Anrta. But never by Shvavrtti. Wherein, Rta refers to the gleaning of corn; Amrta is that which is obtained unasked; Mrta refers to begging and agriculture is called as Pramrta. Trading is considered Satyanrta (as it comprises of both truth and falsehood) and one may subsist even by that. However, one should avoid slavery as it is called Shvavrtti (dog's way of living). (Manu Smrti 4.4-6 and Bhag. Pura. Skan. 7, Adhy. 11, Verses 18-20)<ref name=":12">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiHindiTranslationGirijaPrasadDvivediNavalKishore The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Naval Kishore Press.</ref><ref name=":0">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n95 P.no.965].</ref><blockquote>ऋतामृताभ्यां जीवेत्तु मृतेन प्रमृतेन वा । सत्यानृताभ्यां अपि वा न श्ववृत्त्या कदा चन || ४.४ ||</blockquote><blockquote>ऋतं उञ्छशिलं ज्ञेयं अमृतं स्यादयाचितम् । मृतं तु याचितं भैक्षं प्रमृतं कर्षणं स्मृतम् || ४.५ ||</blockquote><blockquote>सत्यानृतं तु वाणिज्यं तेन चैवापि जीव्यते । सेवा श्ववृत्तिराख्याता तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत् || ४.६ ||<ref name=":02">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref><ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>r̥tāmr̥tābhyāṁ jīvettu mr̥tena pramr̥tena vā । satyānr̥tābhyāṁ api vā na śvavr̥ttyā kadā cana || 4.4 ||</blockquote><blockquote>r̥taṁ uñchaśilaṁ jñeyaṁ amr̥taṁ syādayācitam । mr̥taṁ tu yācitaṁ bhaikṣaṁ pramr̥taṁ karṣaṇaṁ smr̥tam || 4.5 ||</blockquote><blockquote>satyānr̥taṁ tu vāṇijyaṁ tena caivāpi jīvyate । sevā śvavr̥ttirākhyātā tasmāttāṁ parivarjayet || 4.6 ||</blockquote>The Bhagavata Purana further adds that, a brahmana and a kshatriya should always shun shvavrtti (the dog mode of life) which is detested by all; for a brahmana is an embodiment of all the Vedas and Kshatriya (the ruler) is the personification of all deities.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>वर्जयेत्तां सदा विप्रो राजन्यश्च जुगुप्सिताम् । सर्ववेदमयो विप्रः सर्वदेवमयो नृपः ॥ २०॥<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''varjayettāṁ sadā vipro rājanyaśca jugupsitām । sarvavedamayo vipraḥ sarvadevamayo nr̥paḥ ॥ 20॥''</blockquote>While the means of livelihood of mixed castes such as the antyajas, antevasiyas (communities living at the farther end of a village Chandala, Matanga and Pukkasa) are the hereditary callings followed by their respective families, provided it is not robbery and any vocation that is considered a papa.<ref>Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n97 P.no.966-967].</ref><blockquote>वृत्तिः सङ्करजातीनां तत्तत्कुलकृता भवेत् । अचौराणामपापानामन्त्यजान्तेवसायिनाम् ॥ ३०॥<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''vr̥ttiḥ saṅkarajātīnāṁ tattatkulakr̥tā bhavet । acaurāṇāmapāpānāmantyajāntevasāyinām ॥ 30॥''</blockquote>Therefore, all the Varnas have been assigned specific Upajivikas (modes of subsistence) for the smooth functioning of the society. Accordingly, no person born in a lower class should adopt the vocation ordained for the higher class, unless threatened with serious danger, says the Bhagavata Purana. However, Kshatriyas are mentioned as an exception to this rule. The Kshatriyas can adopt brahmanical means of livelihood, except that of accepting charitable gifts. At the same time, it also says that, in times of danger, anybody (belonging to any class) may resort to any profession (prescribed for any class).<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जघन्यो नोत्तमां वृत्तिमनापदि भजेन्नरः । ऋते राजन्यमापत्सु सर्वेषामपि सर्वशः ॥ १७॥<ref name=":1">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 11].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''jaghanyo nottamāṁ vr̥ttimanāpadi bhajennaraḥ । r̥te rājanyamāpatsu sarveṣāmapi sarvaśaḥ ॥ 17॥''</blockquote>However, it also enlists a set of moral and ethical rules to be upheld while fulfilling the financial responsibilities towards the family. | + | The Manusmrti and the Bhagavata Purana say that a person may subsist by Rta, Amrta, Mrta, Pramrta or by Satya and Anrta. But never by Shvavrtti. Wherein, Rta refers to the gleaning of corn; Amrta is that which is obtained unasked; Mrta refers to begging and agriculture is called as Pramrta. Trading is considered Satyanrta (as it comprises of both truth and falsehood) and one may subsist even by that. However, one should avoid slavery as it is called Shvavrtti (dog's way of living). (Manu Smrti 4.4-6 and Bhag. Pura. Skan. 7, Adhy. 11, Verses 18-20)<ref name=":12">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiHindiTranslationGirijaPrasadDvivediNavalKishore The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Naval Kishore Press.</ref><ref name=":0">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n95 P.no.965].</ref><blockquote>ऋतामृताभ्यां जीवेत्तु मृतेन प्रमृतेन वा । सत्यानृताभ्यां अपि वा न श्ववृत्त्या कदा चन || ४.४ ||</blockquote><blockquote>ऋतं उञ्छशिलं ज्ञेयं अमृतं स्यादयाचितम् । मृतं तु याचितं भैक्षं प्रमृतं कर्षणं स्मृतम् || ४.५ ||</blockquote><blockquote>सत्यानृतं तु वाणिज्यं तेन चैवापि जीव्यते । सेवा श्ववृत्तिराख्याता तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत् || ४.६ ||<ref name=":02">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref><ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>r̥tāmr̥tābhyāṁ jīvettu mr̥tena pramr̥tena vā । satyānr̥tābhyāṁ api vā na śvavr̥ttyā kadā cana || 4.4 ||</blockquote><blockquote>r̥taṁ uñchaśilaṁ jñeyaṁ amr̥taṁ syādayācitam । mr̥taṁ tu yācitaṁ bhaikṣaṁ pramr̥taṁ karṣaṇaṁ smr̥tam || 4.5 ||</blockquote><blockquote>satyānr̥taṁ tu vāṇijyaṁ tena caivāpi jīvyate । sevā śvavr̥ttirākhyātā tasmāttāṁ parivarjayet || 4.6 ||</blockquote>The Bhagavata Purana further adds that, a brahmana and a kshatriya should always shun shvavrtti (the dog mode of life) which is detested by all; for a brahmana is an embodiment of all the Vedas and Kshatriya (the ruler) is the personification of all deities.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>वर्जयेत्तां सदा विप्रो राजन्यश्च जुगुप्सिताम् । सर्ववेदमयो विप्रः सर्वदेवमयो नृपः ॥ २०॥<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''varjayettāṁ sadā vipro rājanyaśca jugupsitām । sarvavedamayo vipraḥ sarvadevamayo nr̥paḥ ॥ 20॥''</blockquote>While the means of livelihood of mixed castes such as the antyajas, antevasiyas (communities living at the farther end of a village Chandala, Matanga and Pukkasa) are the hereditary callings followed by their respective families, provided it is not robbery and any vocation that is considered a papa.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n97 P.no.966-967].</ref><blockquote>वृत्तिः सङ्करजातीनां तत्तत्कुलकृता भवेत् । अचौराणामपापानामन्त्यजान्तेवसायिनाम् ॥ ३०॥<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''vr̥ttiḥ saṅkarajātīnāṁ tattatkulakr̥tā bhavet । acaurāṇāmapāpānāmantyajāntevasāyinām ॥ 30॥''</blockquote>Therefore, all the Varnas have been assigned specific Upajivikas (modes of subsistence) for the smooth functioning of the society. And it is said that the one who follows a vocation determined as suitable to his special nature (As determined by his varna) and does his duty, goes on relinquishing that type of work suitable to his disposition and gradually attains to the state of the attributeless atman.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>वृत्त्या स्वभावकृतया वर्तमानः स्वकर्मकृत् । हित्वा स्वभावजं कर्म शनैर्निर्गुणतामियात् ॥ ३२॥<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''vr̥ttyā svabhāvakr̥tayā vartamānaḥ svakarmakr̥t । hitvā svabhāvajaṁ karma śanairnirguṇatāmiyāt ॥ 32॥''</blockquote>Accordingly, no person born in a lower class should adopt the vocation ordained for the higher class, unless threatened with serious danger, says the Bhagavata Purana. However, Kshatriyas are mentioned as an exception to this rule. The Kshatriyas can adopt brahmanical means of livelihood, except that of accepting charitable gifts. At the same time, it also says that, in times of danger, anybody (belonging to any class) may resort to any profession (prescribed for any class).<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जघन्यो नोत्तमां वृत्तिमनापदि भजेन्नरः । ऋते राजन्यमापत्सु सर्वेषामपि सर्वशः ॥ १७॥<ref name=":1">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 11].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''jaghanyo nottamāṁ vr̥ttimanāpadi bhajennaraḥ । r̥te rājanyamāpatsu sarveṣāmapi sarvaśaḥ ॥ 17॥''</blockquote>However, it also enlists a set of moral and ethical rules to be upheld while fulfilling the financial responsibilities towards the family. |