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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20

Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas

वर्तेत ब्रह्मणा विप्रो राजन्यो रक्षया भुव: । वैश्यस्तु वार्तया जीवेच्छूद्रस्तु द्विजसेवया ॥ २० ॥

varteta brahmaṇā vipro rājanyo rakṣayā bhuvaḥ vaiśyas tu vārtayā jīvec chūdras tu dvija-sevayā

婆罗门以研习与教授吠陀为生,刹帝利以护持大地为业,吠舍以农商之业为生,首陀罗则以侍奉二次生者为生。

वर्तेतshould live/act
वर्तेत:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
ब्रह्मणाby sacred knowledge; by Vedic study
ब्रह्मणा:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन
विप्रःa brāhmaṇa
विप्रः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
राजन्यःa kṣatriya
राजन्यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
रक्षयाby protection
रक्षया:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन
भुवःof the earth/land
भुवः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootभू (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
वैश्यःa vaiśya
वैश्यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तुand/but
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विभेदार्थक-निपात
वार्तयाby agriculture/trade (vārttā)
वार्तया:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootवार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन
जीवेत्should live
जीवेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootजीव् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
शूद्रःa śūdra
शूद्रः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तुand/but
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विभेदार्थक-निपात
द्विजसेवयाby service to the twice-born
द्विजसेवया:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानां सेवा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

After glorifying karma, or work, Lord Kṛṣṇa now explains what He means by prescribed duties born of one’s nature. He was not referring to any whimsical activity, but rather to the religious duties prescribed in the varṇāśrama, or Vedic social system.

K
Krishna
N
Nanda Maharaja
I
Indra

FAQs

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa summarizes the traditional duties: brāhmaṇas live by spiritual knowledge, kṣatriyas by protection, vaiśyas by productive economy (vārttā), and śūdras by service to the twice-born.

Kṛṣṇa is guiding Nanda and the Vraja community while discussing whether to perform Indra worship; He explains proper occupational duties and redirects their focus toward the most relevant worship for their livelihood and dharma.

Align your work with integrity and service: cultivate wisdom and teaching, protect and lead responsibly, create honest livelihoods that support society, and serve and support those engaged in higher learning—offering the results to God.