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
మేకలను పెంచి జీవించే వాడు ‘జావాల’ అని; దేవసేవ/మందిరసేవ ద్వారా జీవించే వాడు ‘దేవల’ అని అంటారు. భార్య సంపాదనపై జీవించే వాడు ‘శైలూష’; జీతంపై జీవించే వాడు ‘భృతక’ (కూలీ/ఉద్యోగి)గా చెప్పబడతాడు.
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.