Chapter 3
शूद्रा: प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति तपोवेषोपजीविन: । धर्मं वक्ष्यन्त्यधर्मज्ञा अधिरुह्योत्तमासनम् ॥ ३८ ॥
Transliteration
śūdrāḥ pratigrahīṣyanti tapo-veṣopajīvinaḥ dharmaṁ vakṣyanty adharma-jñā adhiruhyottamāsanam
Synonyms (Word-for-Word)
śūdrāḥ — lowly, common workers; pratigrahīṣyanti — will accept religious charity; tapaḥ — by shows of austerity; veṣa — and by dressing as mendicants; upajīvinaḥ — earning their living; dharmam — the principles of religion; vakṣyanti — will speak about; adharma-jñāḥ — those who know nothing about religion; adhiruhya — mounting; uttama-āsanam — a high seat.
Translation
“Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles.”