Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 53
ऋतामृताभ्यां जीवेत मृतेन प्रमृतेन वा । सत्यानृताभ्यां जीवेत न श्ववृत्त्या कथंचन
ṛtāmṛtābhyāṃ jīveta mṛtena pramṛtena vā | satyānṛtābhyāṃ jīveta na śvavṛttyā kathaṃcana
মানুষ ঋত ও অমৃত দ্বারা, অথবা মৃতে ও প্রমৃতে দ্বারাও জীবিকা নির্বাহ করুক; সত্য-অসত্য মিশ্র উপায়েও চলতে পারে, কিন্তু কোনো অবস্থাতেই শ্ববৃত্তি—কুকুরসদৃশ পরাধীন সেবা—দ্বারা নয়।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A teacher enumerates four graded livelihoods on a palm-leaf diagram; a figure refuses a dog-like servile posture, standing upright with staff and water pot, symbolizing dignified self-reliance.
FAQs
Dharma regulates livelihood: better to adopt lesser options in hardship than to lose dignity and purity through servile dependence.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra is the narrative setting; the teaching frames how residents/pilgrims should live dharmically in this sacred region.
Not a ritual act but a dharmic rule: prefer permitted means of sustenance and avoid śvavṛtti.