[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Vishnupurana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu) › 3.8.37 # Vishnupurana 3.8.37 Viṣṇupurāṇa 3.8.37 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [3.8.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.37) āśramāṇāṃ ca sarveṣām ete sāmānyalakṣaṇāḥ guṇāṃs tathāpaddharmāṃś ca viprādīnām imāñ chṛṇu // > "Besides these their respective obligations, there are duties equally incumbent upon all the four castes. These are, the acquisition of property, for the support of their families; cohabitation with their wives, for the sake of progeny; tenderness towards all creatures, patience, humility, truth, purity, contentment, decency of decoration, gentleness of speech, friendliness; and freedom from envy and repining, from avarice, and from detraction. These also are the duties of every condition of life. > — Horace Hayman Wilson 1840, The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition > "In times of distress the peculiar functions of the castes may be modified, as you shall hear. A Brahman may follow the occupations of a Kshatriya or a Vaiśya; the Kshatriya may adopt those of the Vaiśya; and the Vaiśya those of the Kshatriya: but these two last should never descend to the functions of the Śúdra, if it be possible to avoid them; and if that be not possible, they must at least shun the functions of the mined castes. I will now, Rájá, relate to you the duties of the several Ásramas or conditions of life." > — Horace Hayman Wilson 1840, The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition - [Previous: 3.8.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.36) - [Next: 3.8.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.38) - [Up: 3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8) ## Translations (2) - [The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu~en-wilson.3.8.8) — Horace Hayman Wilson 1840, English - [A Prose English Translation of Vishnupuranam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu~en-dutt.3.8.p7) — Manmatha Nath Dutt 1896, English ## Other recensions (1) - [Viṣṇupurāṇa (vulgate)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu*vulgate.3.8.38) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.37) · Pramāṇa