Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 58
अजीवन्कर्मणा स्वेन विप्रः क्षात्त्रं समाश्रयेत् । वैश्यकर्माऽथवा कुर्याद्वार्षलं परिवर्जयेत्
ajīvankarmaṇā svena vipraḥ kṣāttraṃ samāśrayet | vaiśyakarmā'thavā kuryādvārṣalaṃ parivarjayet
اگر برہمن اپنے مناسب دھرمک فرائض سے روزی نہ چلا سکے تو وہ کشتریہ کے طریقے اختیار کر سکتا ہے، یا ویشیہ کا کام کر لے؛ مگر شودر کی پیشہ وری سے لازماً پرہیز کرے۔
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.