Shloka 32

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

द्विजातिसंश्रयं कर्म तादर्थ्यं तेन पोषणम् क्रयविक्रयजैर् वापि धनैः कारूद्भवेन वा

Transliteration

dvijātisaṃśrayaṃ karma tādarthyaṃ tena poṣaṇam krayavikrayajair vāpi dhanaiḥ kārūdbhavena vā

Translation

He should undertake work befitting the station of the twice-born and, directed to that purpose, sustain himself by it; or he may live on wealth from buying and selling, or on earnings gained through craftsmanship and skilled labor.

Word by Word

• द्विजातिसंश्रयम्: dependent on the twice-born
• द्विजातिसंश्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजातीनां संश्रयम्)

• कर्म: work/occupation
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तादर्थ्यम्: for that purpose
• तादर्थ्यम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + य (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धित-प्रत्ययः (य) — 'तदर्थ' भावः

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• पोषणम्: maintenance/support
• पोषणम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रयविक्रयजैः: by (wealth) arising from buying and selling
• क्रयविक्रयजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (क्रय-विक्रय) + 'ज' (उत्पन्न)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• धनैः: with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• कारूद्भवेन: by that produced by artisanship
• कारूद्भवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कारु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (कारोः/कारुभ्यः उद्भवः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Permissible occupations and support-structures for sustaining dharmic life, including trade and crafts

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: pragmatic and prescriptive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should pursue work aligned with the dharmic expectations of the twice-born framework and sustain oneself thereby, or by wealth from commerce and, where appropriate, by skilled craftsmanship.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align profession with ethical norms and responsibilities; let income-generation remain subordinate to integrity and social benefit.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly skills and exchange are not outside spiritual life when subordinated to dharma—actions become meaningful as offerings within the Lord-governed order.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the significance of right livelihood for the twice-born in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames livelihood as a dharmic act: work should align with dvija standards and sustain life without undermining social and moral order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain permissible means of earning here?

He allows maintenance through one’s proper duties, and also through ethically obtained wealth from trade or from artisan skills, emphasizing sustenance without dharma-violation.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching supports Vaishnava cosmology where dharma is part of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—orderly livelihood becomes participation in that sustaining principle.