* Description of discipline to be exercised in earning livelihood by all four Varnas including Brahmins.
Description of discipline to be exercised in earning livelihood by all four Varnas including Brahmins.
Shri Narayan Muni said:-
‘O innocent one! One should earn money, for his livelihood which was narrated by me previously and one should spend it on good works. 1.
A twice-born should always take to one of them (livelihoods), according to his caste and earn money for his livelihood. But he should not engage himself in service to a mean person. 2
For a householder, there are four recommended means of livelihood: 1. subsistence by gleaning scattered grain in the fields (Silonchha) 2. Unbegged income, earned by modest living 3.Income received by conducting a sacrifice and 4. agriculture (Varta). 3.
The best Brahmin should understand that among these, every later means, is inferior to the former and should select one of them according to time, place and one’s own ability. 4.
1. Gleaning the paddy and rice grains left out by the fieldguard, is called Silonchhana 2. Unbegged food is called Shalina 3. Income by conducting a sacrifice is called Sanchaya and 4. Earning livelihood through agriculture etc., is called varta. Generally speaking, these are the means of livelihood. Similarly, advanced learning also brings ample wealth. 5 - 6.
Sometimes the deities pleased by offerings, oblations in fire (Havya), and oblations of food to manes (Kavya) and also by regular observance of restrains (like purity etc.,) grant much wealth. 7.
Sometimes, money in the form of jewels, gold etc., are obtained, occasionally from the earth (mine) by grace of Brahmanical sages and sometimes unexpectedly. All this wealth obtained by a householder is deemed to be judicious income. This wealth alone is deemed to be the best for religious functions. 8 - 9
O Brahmin! Remember well that the wealth of a Kshatriyaking, which is collected through state-craft alone, is deemed to be judicious and fit to be used in religious functions and not earned by other means. 10.
When a Brahmin is unable to feed his family by the way of prescribed means of best livelihood, then he may practice the livelihood of the lower social order but should not practice it when he is not in a calamity. 11.
There also, a Brahmin should not practice the injurious livelihood of a Kshatriya but he may resort to mercantile livelihood. A king in severe calamity may accept mercantile livelihood. If a vaishya is in difficulty, he should overcome his calamity by following the manual (Shudra’s) livelihood or the vocation like craftsmanship etc., 12-13.
After overcoming the calamity, all of them should undergo atonement ritual and again sincerely take refuge in their own means of livelihood. 14.
’O respectable one! During this kali age, subsistence is not at all possible for Brahmins and Marshal-race (Kshatriyas) with the help of their own means of livelihood. Hence, both of them being particular in religious activities should maintain their families and feed guests by resorting to mercantile profession. 15-16.
They should accept trading business in the absence of agriculture and money lending in the absence of mercantile business. But, a Brahmin should never accept the troublesome and sinful work of usury. 17.
Since, the job of usury is adopted by the daring persons from wretched ones who are being ruined (bankrupt), it is deemed to spread four times or eight times more evil and called Kusida.18.
A Brahmin, except in the calamity of death, should never borrow money from a money lender for the sake of religious functions or for getting personal enjoyment and comfort. For a pauper householder, especially a Brahmin, there exists, no other sorrow than debt from a creditor. 19 -20.
Subsistence, even on fifth or sixth day, just by eating leaves of vegetables, is preferable to incurring debt, even in the case of king. 21.
Among the various means of livelihoods for a Vaishya, a Brahmin should take shelter in agriculture if during the Kaliyuga, he is unable to feed his family by his own profession. 22.
‘O great Brahmin (the best of the twice-born classes), during the time of calamity for a Brahmin, mercantile profession is recommended as the best, for his livelihood. This is narrated by Lord Narayana to sage Narada, in the Skandapurana, in ancient times. 23.
Thus ends the fourteenth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of means livelihood for a householder,’ in the fifth Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra (the rules of the code of conduct). 14