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Vishnupurana 3.8.38-40

Viṣṇupurāṇa 3.8.38-40

Language
Sanskrit

3.8.38

kṣātraṃ karma dvijasyoktaṃ vaiśyakarma tathāpadi
rājanyasya ca vaiśyoktaṃ śūdrakarma na caitayoḥ //

"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

3.8.39

sāmarthye sati tat tyājyam ubhābhyām api pārthiva
tad evāpadi kartavyaṃ na kuryāt karmasaṃkaram //

"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

3.8.40

ity ete kathitā rājan varṇadharmā mayā tava
dharmam āśramiṇāṃ samyag bruvato me niśāmaya //

"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

Translations (2)

Other recensions (1)