vaiśyas tu vārtā-vṛttiḥ syān

vaiśyas tu vārtā-vṛttiḥ syān

nityaṁ brahma-kulānugaḥ

śūdrasya dvija-śuśrūṣā

vṛttiś ca svāmino bhavet

The mercantile community should always engage in occupational duties under the directions of the brāhmaṇas. For the śūdras whose quality is service to the other varṇas, his livelihood is service to a master of a higher social order.

 

The occupation of the vaiśya is agriculture and commerce. The quality of the śūdra is serving the higher orders and his occupation is service to a master of those higher orders.

|| 7.11.16 ||

vārtā vicitrā śālīna-

yāyāvara-śiloñchanam

vipra-vṛttiś caturdheyaṁ

śreyasī cottarottarā

The brāhmaṇa may also adopt four other means of livelihood. He may depend on that which he has received without begging, he may beg every day, he may collect paddy left in a field by its proprietor, or he may collect food grains left here and there in the shops of grain dealers. Among these four, each of them in succession is better than the one preceding it.

This verse describes alternative occupations for the brāhmaṇa. There are various other occupations for the brāhmaṇa. Śālīna means receiving food without begging. Yāyāvara means begging for one day’s grains. Śila means collecting left over grains from the field.  Uñchanam means collecting grains which have fallen on the ground in the market and left there.

|| 7.11.17 ||

jaghanyo nottamāṁ vṛttim

anāpadi bhajen naraḥ

ṛte rājanyam āpatsu

sarveṣām api sarvaśaḥ

Except in a time of emergency, lower persons should not accept the occupational duties of those who are higher. When there is such an emergency, everyone but the kṣatriya may accept any of the others’ occupations.

This verse describes emergency situations. Those lower should not accept higher professions like teaching. The kṣatriya can also take other occupations except receiving charity.

|| 7.11.18 ||