Shloka 4
अध्याय २९४ — योगलक्षणम् तथा सांख्यपरिसंख्यानम्
Yoga Definition and Sāṃkhya Enumeration
वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं च तथा शिल्पोपजीवनम् । शूद्रस्थापि विधीयन्ते यदा वृत्ति्न जायते
vāṇijyaṁ pāśupālyaṁ ca tathā śilpopajīvanam | śūdrasyāpi vidhīyante yadā vṛttir na jāyate ||
パラーシャラは言った。「シュードラ（Śūdra）が、慣例の奉仕をもってする生業によって自らを養えなくなったとき、他の扶持の道もまた許される——交易、牛畜の飼養と世話、そして工芸・手業による稼ぎである。その倫理の趣旨は、常の義務が生命を支え得ぬとき、実際的で害の少ない職を認めて困窮を防ぐことにある。」
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.