Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 16

Varṇāśrama-Dharma and the Thirty Qualities of a Human Being

Devanagari script

वार्ता विचित्रा शालीनयायावरशिलोञ्छनम् । विप्रवृत्तिश्चतुर्धेयं श्रेयसी चोत्तरोत्तरा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vārtā vicitrā śālīna- yāyāvara-śiloñchanam vipra-vṛttiś caturdheyaṁ śreyasī cottarottarā

Translation

“生业”(vārttā)亦有多种方式，如沙利那(śālīna)、游行者(yāyāvara)、拾穗者(śiloñchana)等，合为婆罗门可取的四种生计。此四者依次而论，后者较前者更为殊胜॥16॥

Synonyms

• vārtā: means of livelihood (economic activity)
• vārtā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārtā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vicitrā: varied
• vicitrā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; vārtā-विशेषण

• śālīna-yāyāvara-śiloñchanam: (the modes) śālīna, yāyāvara, and śiloñchana
• śālīna-yāyāvara-śiloñchanam: Karma (कर्म/Object; enumerating types)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālīna (प्रातिपदिक) + yāyāvara (प्रातिपदिक) + śiloñchana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list of modes)

• vipra-vṛttiḥ: a brāhmaṇa’s livelihood
• vipra-vṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'brāhmaṇa’s livelihood'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• caturdheyam: fourfold
• caturdheyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of vipra-vṛttiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या) + dheya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'fourfold'

• śreyasī: better
• śreyasī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• uttara-uttarā: each successive one (is better)
• uttara-uttarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier; of implied vṛttiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (reduplicative): 'each succeeding (one)'

Purport

A brāhmaṇa is sometimes offered land and cows in charity, and thus for his livelihood he may act in the same way as a vaiśya, by cultivating land, giving protection to cows and trading off his surpluses. A better process, however, is to pick up grains from a field or from a dealer’s shop without begging.

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how a brāhmaṇa should earn a living?

This verse states that a brāhmaṇa’s livelihood is described in multiple ways and is considered fourfold; among these, progressively simpler and more renounced methods are regarded as increasingly superior.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī explain brāhmaṇa livelihood to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja?

In Canto 7, Chapter 11, Śukadeva instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on varṇāśrama-dharma—how each social and spiritual order should live—so that society is guided by purity, self-control, and devotion.

How can the principle of śiloñchana (living on remnants) be applied in modern life?

One can adopt its spirit by minimizing wants, avoiding exploitative earning, living simply, and prioritizing sādhana and service—choosing contentment and integrity over luxury and excess.