[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) › 3.8.38-40 # Vishnupurana 3.8.38-40 Viṣṇupurāṇa 3.8.38-40 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [3.8.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.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](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.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](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.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) - [The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu~en-wilson.3.8.9) — Horace Hayman Wilson 1840, English - [A Prose English Translation of Vishnupuranam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu~en-dutt.3.8.p8) — Manmatha Nath Dutt 1896, English ## Other recensions (1) - [Viṣṇupurāṇa (vulgate)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu*vulgate.3.8.39) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.38-40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu.3.8.38-40) · Pramāṇa