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TEXTS 1820
rtamrtabhyam jiveta
mrtena pramrtena va
satyanrtabhyam api va
na sva-vrttya kadacana
rtam unchasilam proktam
amrtam yad ayacitam
mrtam tu nitya-yacna syat
pramrtam karsanam smrtam
satyanrtam ca vanijyam
sva-vrttir nica-sevanam
varjayet tam sada vipro
rajanyas ca jugupsitam
sarva-vedamayo viprah
sarva-devamayo nrpah
SYNONYMS
rta-amrtabhyamof the means of livelihood known as rta and amrta; jivetaone may live; mrtenaby the profession of mrta; pramrtena vaor by the profession of pramrta; satyanrtabhyam apieven by the profession of satyanrta; vaor; nanever; sva-vrttyaby the profession of the dogs; kadacanaat any time; rtamrta; unchasilamthe livelihood of collecting grains left in the field or marketplace; proktamit is said; amrtamthe profession of amrta; yatwhich; ayacitamobtained without begging from anyone else; mrtamthe profession of mrta; tubut; nitya-yacnabegging grains every day from the farmers; syatshould be; pramrtamthe pramrta means of livelihood; karsanamtilling the field; smrtamit is so remembered; satyanrtamthe occupation of satyanrta; caand; vanijyamtrade; sva-vrttihthe occupation of the dogs; nica-sevanamthe service of low persons (the vaisyas and sudras); varjayetshould give up; tamthat (the profession of the dogs); sadaalways; viprahthe brahmana; rajanyah caand the ksatriya; jugupsitamvery abominable; sarva-veda-mayahlearned in all the Vedic understandings; viprahthe brahmana; sarva-deva-mayahthe embodiment of all the demigods; nrpahthe ksatriya or king.
TRANSLATION
In time of emergency, one may accept any of the various types of professions known as rta, amrta, mrta, pramrta and satyanrta, but one should not at any time accept the profession of a dog. The profession of unchasila, collecting grains from the field, is called rta. Collecting without begging is called amrta, begging grains is called mrta, tilling the ground is called pramrta, and trade is called satyanrta. Engaging in the service of low-grade persons, however, is called sva-vrtti, the profession of the dogs. Specifically, brahmanas and ksatriyas should not engage in the low and abominable service of sudras. Brahmanas should be well acquainted with all the Vedic knowledge, and ksatriyas should be well acquainted with the worship of demigods.
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.13), catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: the four divisions of human society were created by the Supreme Lord according to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them. Formerly, the principle of dividing human society into four sectionsbrahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudrawas strictly followed, but because of gradual neglect of the varnasrama principles, varna-sankara population developed, and the entire institution has now been lost. In this age of Kali, practically everyone is a sudra (kalau sudra-sambhavah), and finding anyone who is a brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya is very difficult. Although the Krsna consciousness movement is a movement of brahmanas and Vaisnavas, it is trying to reestablish the divine varnasrama institution, for without this division of society there cannot be peace and prosperity anywhere.
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