Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 45
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
जावालः स्यादजाजीवो देवाजीवस्तु देवलः जायाजीवस्तु शैलूषा भृतको भृतिभुक्तथा
jāvālaḥ syādajājīvo devājīvastu devalaḥ jāyājīvastu śailūṣā bhṛtako bhṛtibhuktathā
Orang yang hidup dari memelihara kambing disebut ‘jāvāla’; yang hidup dari pelayanan dewa-dewa (pelayanan kuil) disebut ‘devala’. Yang hidup dari penghasilan istrinya disebut ‘śailūṣa’; dan yang hidup dari upah disebut ‘bhṛtaka’ (buruh upahan).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Defining livelihood-based social labels for legal/ethical discourse, taxation categories, and adjudication in vyavahāra contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Livelihood definitions: jāvāla, devala, śailūṣa, bhṛtaka","lookup_keywords":["jāvāla","devala","śailūṣa","bhṛtaka","ājīva"],"quick_summary":"Provides concise definitions of persons by means of livelihood—goat-herding, temple-service, living off wife’s earnings, and wage-labor—useful for social/legal classification."}
Concept: Ājīva (means of living) is a key axis for social identity and normative evaluation in dharma discourse.
Application: In legal/administrative records, classify persons by livelihood for contracts, wages, temple duties, and disputes over maintenance.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Vyavahara (Occupational & social classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four livelihood vignettes: a goatherd with a flock; a temple-servant offering lamps; a man receiving money from his wife at home; a laborer being paid wages by an employer.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: four-panel narrative with clear iconography—goats, temple lamp, household exchange, wage payment; flat colors, strong outlines, traditional attire.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotional emphasis on the devala scene with gold-lit lamp and temple arch; other vignettes around; gold detailing on ornaments and ritual vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic four-scene layout with fine linework and labels jāvāla/devala/śailūṣa/bhṛtaka; gentle colors, clear gestures showing livelihood.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: domestic and urban scenes with realistic animals and architecture; employer paying wages, temple courtyard with lamp service; delicate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādajājīvo = स्यात् + अजाजीवः; devājīvastu = देवाजीवः + तु; jāyājīvastu = जायाजीवः + तु; bhṛtibhuktathā = भृतिभुक् + तथा (क् + त → क्त in external sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365.43-44 (social/occupational lists)
FAQs
It provides technical nomenclature for livelihood-based social descriptors—especially the term devala for those sustained by temple/deity-service and bhṛtaka for wage-dependent workers.
By cataloging precise Sanskrit labels for professions and economic dependence, it functions like a lexicon embedded within a Purāṇa—alongside its ritual, political, medical, and literary materials.
It frames livelihood as a dharmic category: naming modes of subsistence supports ethical evaluation of conduct (ācāra) and social duties (svadharma) tied to one’s means of living.