Shloka 22

कālacakra-वर्णनम् तथा āśrama-धarma-निरूपणम्

The Wheel of Time and the Norms of the Āśramas

Devanagari script

त्रीणि कर्माणि जानीत ब्राह्मणानां तु जीविका । याजनाध्यापने चोभे शुद्धाच्चापि प्रतिग्रह:,इनमेंसे तीन कर्म--याजन (यज्ञ कराना), अध्यापन (पढ़ाना) और श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंसे दान लेना--ये ब्राह्मणकी जीविकाके साधन हैं

Transliteration

trīṇi karmāṇi jānīta brāhmaṇānāṃ tu jīvikā | yājanādhyāpane cobhe śuddāccāpi pratigrahaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “Know that there are three rightful means of livelihood for Brahmins: officiating at sacrifices for others, teaching sacred learning, and accepting pure gifts (given in a righteous manner).”

Word by Word

त्रीणिthree

कर्माणिacts/duties/occupations

जानीतknow (you all)

ब्राह्मणानाम्of Brahmins

तुindeed/but

जीविकाlivelihood

याजनofficiating at sacrifices (causing others to sacrifice)

अध्यापनेteaching (the two: officiating and teaching)

चand

उभेboth

शुद्धात्from a pure (person/source)

चand

अपिalso/even

प्रतिग्रहःacceptance (of gifts)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Brāhmaṇa (Brahmins)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A Brahmin’s livelihood should rest on dharmic functions—serving society through priestly officiation and teaching—and on receiving only ‘pure’ gifts, i.e., offerings obtained and given righteously, without compromising integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is instructing about proper conduct (dharma), specifically defining the legitimate means of subsistence for Brahmins and emphasizing ethical constraints on accepting gifts.