Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 25
Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
दुर्मना भगवान् काव्य: पौरोहित्यं विगर्हयन् । स्तुवन् वृत्तिं च कापोतीं दुहित्रा स ययौ पुरात् ॥ २५ ॥
durmanā bhagavān kāvyaḥ paurohityaṁ vigarhayan stuvan vṛttiṁ ca kāpotīṁ duhitrā sa yayau purāt
Mendengar hal itu, Bhagavān Kāvyā (Śukrācārya) sangat berdukacita. Sambil mengecam pekerjaan kependetaan (paurohitī) dan memuji uñcha-vṛtti—hidup dengan memungut sisa bijirin di ladang—baginda meninggalkan rumah bersama puterinya.
When a brāhmaṇa adopts the profession of a kapota, or pigeon, he lives by collecting grains from the field. This is called uñcha-vṛtti. A brāhmaṇa who takes to this uñcha-vṛtti profession is called first class because he depends completely on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and does not beg from anyone. Although the profession of begging is allowed for a brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī, one does better if he can avoid such a profession and completely depend on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for maintenance. Śukrācārya was certainly very sorry that because of his daughter’s complaint he had to go to his disciple to beg some mercy, which he was obliged to do because he had accepted the profession of priesthood. In his heart, Śukrācārya did not like his profession, but since he had accepted it, he was obliged to go unwillingly to his disciple to settle the grievance submitted by his daughter.
FAQs
Because he felt displeased and viewed paid priestly service as spiritually compromising; he praised a simple, content livelihood (like a dove’s) and therefore chose to leave.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this episode to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Maintain integrity and simplicity in one’s means of living, avoiding work that pressures one to compromise principles for gain.