Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31
Varṇāśrama-ācāra: Common Virtues, Varṇa Duties, and the Four Āśramas
क्षत्रियोऽपि च विड्वृत्तिमत्यापदि समाश्रयेत् । नाश्रयेच्छूद्रवृत्तिं तु अत्यापद्यपि वै द्विजः ॥ ३१ ॥
kṣatriyo'pi ca viḍvṛttimatyāpadi samāśrayet | nāśrayecchūdravṛttiṃ tu atyāpadyapi vai dvijaḥ || 31 ||
Même un kṣatriya, dans une détresse extrême, peut prendre le moyen de subsistance d’un vaiśya ; mais un dvija ne doit pas adopter celui d’un śūdra, fût-ce dans la plus dure adversité.
Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It frames “āpaddharma” (ethics in crisis) as a controlled concession: one may adjust livelihood to survive, yet must protect dharma-bound identity and discipline, which the text treats as spiritually formative.
Indirectly: bhakti in the Narada Purana is supported by dharmic steadiness. The verse stresses restraint and fidelity to one’s dharma even under pressure, which preserves purity of conduct that sustains devotional life.
It primarily reflects Dharmaśāstra-style application rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is the rule-based reasoning of āpaddharma—how to interpret permissible occupations under exceptional circumstances.