Chapter 11
ऋतामृताभ्यां जीवेत मृतेन प्रमृतेन वा । सत्यानृताभ्यामपि वा न श्ववृत्त्या कदाचन ॥ १८ ॥ ऋतमुञ्छशिलं प्रोक्तममृतं यदयाचितम् । मृतं तु नित्ययाच्ञा स्यात्प्रमृतं कर्षणं स्मृतम् ॥ १९ ॥ सत्यानृतं च वाणिज्यं श्ववृत्तिर्नीचसेवनम् । वर्जयेत्तां सदा विप्रो राजन्यश्च जुगुप्सिताम् । सर्ववेदमयो विप्र: सर्वदेवमयो नृप: ॥ २० ॥
Transliteration
ṛtāmṛtābhyāṁ jīveta mṛtena pramṛtena vā satyānṛtābhyām api vā na śva-vṛttyā kadācanaṛtam uñchaśilaṁ proktam amṛtaṁ yad ayācitam mṛtaṁ tu nitya-yācñā syāt pramṛtaṁ karṣaṇaṁ smṛtamsatyānṛtaṁ ca vāṇijyaṁ śva-vṛttir nīca-sevanam varjayet tāṁ sadā vipro rājanyaś ca jugupsitām sarva-vedamayo vipraḥ sarva-devamayo nṛpaḥ
Synonyms (Word-for-Word)
ṛta-amṛtābhyām — of the means of livelihood known as ṛta and amṛta; jīveta — one may live; mṛtena — by the profession of mṛta; pramṛtena vā — or by the profession of pramṛta; satyānṛtābhyām api — even by the profession of satyānṛta; vā — or; na — never; śva-vṛttyā — by the profession of the dogs; kadācana — at any time; ṛtam — ṛta; uñchaśilam — the livelihood of collecting grains left in the field or marketplace; proktam — it is said; amṛtam — the profession of amṛta; yat — which; ayācitam — obtained without begging from anyone else; mṛtam — the profession of mṛta; tu — but; nitya-yācñā — begging grains every day from the farmers; syāt — should be; pramṛtam — the pramṛta means of livelihood; karṣaṇam — tilling the field; smṛtam — it is so remembered; satyānṛtam — the occupation of satyānṛta; ca — and; vāṇijyam — trade; śva-vṛttiḥ — the occupation of the dogs; nīca-sevanam — the service of low persons (the vaiśyas and śūdras); varjayet — should give up; tām — that (the profession of the dogs); sadā — always; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa; rājanyaḥ ca — and the kṣatriya; jugupsitām — very abominable; sarva-veda-mayaḥ — learned in all the Vedic understandings; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa; sarva-deva-mayaḥ — the embodiment of all the demigods; nṛpaḥ — the kṣatriya or king.
Translation
“In time of emergency, one may accept any of the various types of professions known as ṛta, amṛta, mṛta, pramṛta and satyānṛta, but one should not at any time accept the profession of a dog. The profession of uñchaśila, collecting grains from the field, is called ṛta. Collecting without begging is called amṛta, begging grains is called mṛta, tilling the ground is called pramṛta, and trade is called satyānṛta. Engaging in the service of low-grade persons, however, is called śva-vṛtti, the profession of the dogs. Specifically, brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas should not engage in the low and abominable service of śūdras. Brāhmaṇas should be well acquainted with all the Vedic knowledge, and kṣatriyas should be well acquainted with the worship of demigods.”