Shloka 4
अध्याय २९४ — योगलक्षणम् तथा सांख्यपरिसंख्यानम्
Yoga Definition and Sāṃkhya Enumeration
वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं च तथा शिल्पोपजीवनम् । शूद्रस्थापि विधीयन्ते यदा वृत्ति्न जायते,जब शूद्र सेवावृत्तिसे जीविका न चला सके, तब उसके लिये भी व्यापार, पशुपालन तथा शिल्पकला आदिसे जीवन-निर्वाह करनेकी आज्ञा है
vāṇijyaṁ pāśupālyaṁ ca tathā śilpopajīvanam | śūdrasyāpi vidhīyante yadā vṛttir na jāyate ||
Parāśara said: “When a Śūdra cannot sustain himself by his customary livelihood of service, he is permitted other means of maintenance as well—trade, the keeping and tending of cattle, and earning through crafts. The ethical intent is to prevent destitution by allowing practical, non-harmful occupations when one’s usual duty cannot support life.”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
If a person cannot survive through the livelihood normally associated with their social duty, dharma permits alternative, socially constructive occupations—such as trade, animal husbandry, and crafts—so that life is sustained without falling into harmful or unethical means.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Parāśara lays down a rule about permissible livelihoods: for a Śūdra who cannot maintain himself through service, other occupations are allowed as a practical accommodation within dharma.