Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 58
अजीवन्कर्मणा स्वेन विप्रः क्षात्त्रं समाश्रयेत् । वैश्यकर्माऽथवा कुर्याद्वार्षलं परिवर्जयेत्
ajīvankarmaṇā svena vipraḥ kṣāttraṃ samāśrayet | vaiśyakarmā'thavā kuryādvārṣalaṃ parivarjayet
Se um Brāhmaṇa não puder subsistir pelos seus próprios deveres, pode recorrer aos de um Kṣatriya ou de um Vaiśya, mas deve evitar o trabalho de um Śūdra.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A brāhmaṇa householder at Prabhāsa, facing scarcity, sets aside ritual implements momentarily and takes up a kṣatriya bow or vaiśya scales, while a śāstra scroll remains nearby—signaling temporary āpaddharma without abandoning learning.
FAQs
In hardship, dharma allows graded alternatives, but one should still avoid degrading choices that violate one’s discipline.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra forms the backdrop; the māhātmya teaches that sanctity includes righteous livelihood.
An āpaddharma guideline: adopt kṣatriya or vaiśya means if necessary; avoid vārṣala livelihood.