Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 47
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
सीदन् विप्रो वणिग्वृत्त्या पण्यैरेवापदं तरेत् । खड्गेन वापदाक्रान्तो न श्ववृत्त्या कथञ्चन ॥ ४७ ॥
sīdan vipro vaṇig-vṛttyā paṇyair evāpadaṁ taret khaḍgena vāpadākrānto na śva-vṛttyā kathañcana
Si un brāhmaṇa ne peut subsister par ses devoirs ordinaires et souffre, il peut adopter le métier de marchand et franchir la détresse par l’achat et la vente. S’il demeure dans une pauvreté extrême, il peut prendre l’épée et assumer la fonction de kṣatriya; mais en aucun cas il ne doit vivre comme un chien, au service d’un maître ordinaire.
Śva-vṛttyā, or “a dog’s profession,” refers to the śūdras, who cannot live without accepting a master. A destitute brāhmaṇa who is suffering intolerably may become a merchant and then a kṣatriya but may never take the position of a śūdra by working in a company or accepting a master. Although a kṣatriya is ordinarily considered more elevated than a vaiśya, the Lord here recommends that distressed brāhmaṇas first accept the vaiśya occupation, since it is not violent.
FAQs
This verse says that if a brāhmaṇa is in distress, he may temporarily adopt trade (a merchant’s occupation) to overcome calamity, but should not resort to a degrading, ‘dog-like’ livelihood.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa explains varṇāśrama duties and yuga-dharma, clarifying what is permissible in emergencies while preserving the dignity and principles expected of a brāhmaṇa.
When facing financial crisis, one may take permissible alternative work to recover, but should avoid unethical, degrading, or harmful means of income that destroy integrity and spiritual values.