Chapter 2 - Code of conduct for four casts and their special features

Shri Narayan Muni said: - 

Code of conduct for four casts and their special features. 

‘O Brahmin! Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra are told to be the four Varnas i.e. four social orders/castes. Those have emerged from mouth, arms, thighs and feet respectively of the mega cosmic person (Vairaja). 1. 

The common code of conduct applicable to all of those four castes, is now being told as follows - non-violence, celibacy, renunciation, non-theft, forgiveness, straightforwardness; contentment, service to knowers of Brahman, avoidance of vile desires, purity, penance, mercy, truthfulness, forbearance, control of mind, control of senses, discrimination between proper and improper, contemplation upon the truth about birth and death, always being sin-fearing , avoidance of bad company, sharing of food etc., Among the beings as per their needsidentification of the spirit residing in all beings and particularly in human beings, regularly listening to divine stories, 2 - 6. 

remembering Lord Hari and singing His glories, service, worship, salutation, servitude, closeness and self-surrender unto Him. Thus, I have told you the common universal code of conduct that brings happiness to all. Now, I shall explain the special code of conduct, prescribed for those four castes respectively. 7. 

Special Dharmas of Brahman. 

The following are the twenty-four inborn qualities of a Brahmin: control of mind and senses, austerity, purity, contentment, peace, straightforwardness, sacrifice without violence, being non jealous, friendship, truthfulness, courage, compassion, righteousness, absence of envy, charity, worship of Hari, softness, modesty, knowledge, wisdom, belief in God, self-study, equanimity. The observance of these qualities bestow all desired results. 8- 10. 

Special Dharmas of Kshatriyas. / Following are the qualities of a Kshatriya: 

Valour, fortitude, heroism, endurance, valiant i.e. Kshatrateja, industriousness, generosity, stability, enthusiasm, self-respect, self-conquest, guardianship of Brahmins, supremacy, protection, restraint of enemies, vigilance, generosity, not fleeing from battle field, interest in weapons and vehicles, charity, inclination towards spending huge wealth in sacrifices, Always being in service of Brahmin and worship of Vasudeva (Hari), protection of subjects like he would protect his own children and protection of those who have taken shelter in him. Thus I have explained to you the innate qualities of a Kshatriya. 11 -14. 

Special Dharmas of Vaishyas. 

Following are the inborn qualities of a Vaishya: belief in Vedas and Dharma, always being non-deceitful in his profession, being of service to Brahmins, fulfilment of three goals of life (i.e. Dharma, Artha & Kama), devotion to God and Guru (preceptor), agriculture, love for rearing of cows, passion for charity and alertness. 15-16. 

Special Dharmas of Shudras. 

(They should render) service to the three upper classes, cows and God diligently and be contented with whatever they have earned. 17.

Definition of Dwijati and one caste. 

Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya are said to be the three twiceborn (dvija) classes because they have two births; natural birth and birth after the thread ceremony. Shudra is said to have single- birth, he is not entitled to the thread ceremony. 18. 

In case of three classes, birth in a good family is the first one. Thereafter, with the help of Vedic Sanskaras like thread ceremony, they get another birth. Therefore they are called ‘twice- born’. 19. 

Sixteen sanskaras: 

Conception (Garbhadhana), Pumsavana and Simant, these three are the prenatal Sanskaras. Birth ritual (Jatakarma), naming the child, taking the child out of the house, feeding ceremony, hair-cutting ceremony, ear piercing, thread ceremony, beginning of Vedic instruction, end of studentship, cutting hair and conclusive bath, bringing of a bride & marriage, taking the vow of maintenance of the sacred fire and maintenance of three sacrificial fires (Agnihotra). These sixteen Sanskaras are said to be performed with Vedic mantras in case of the three classes. 20 - 22. 

In case of women, the nine Sanskaras, ending with earpiercing are to be performed without Vedic mantras. Only marriage ceremony is to performed with Vedic mantras. In case of Shudras as well, all the ten Sanskaras are to be performed without Vedic mantras. For them mantras from Puranas, are chanted. 23.

In the case of Sat-Shudra (well-behaved, vegetarian, pious among the Shudras), all the ten Sanskaras are said to be performed, but without Vedic mantras. However, in case of Asat-Shudra (opposite to the Sat—) only one i.e. marriage Sanskara is prescribed with Vedic mantras. 24. 

Even though Shudra is the fourth class, because of the fact that they belongs to one of the classes, they deserve to have Sanskaras and other rituals (through Brahmins) without Vedic mantras and without utterances of Svadha, Svaha and Vashat. 25. 

Shudras may also perform sacrifices, give donations and participate in other rituals with Pauranic mantras uttered by Brahmins. They may also listen to Mahabharata Katha along with Puranas narrated by Brahmins. 26. 

In previous ages, for women, thread ceremony, teaching of Vedas as well as muttering or chanting of Savitri i.e. Gayatri mantra was in practice. 27. 

O Suvrat !, in twice-born classes, there were two types of women: firstly women of sharp intellect, who were Brahmavadini i.e. learned and spiritually advanced women. Secondly there were Sadyavadhu, i.e. those who marry and become housewives at an early age. 28. 

There again, keeping a constant sacred fire was prescribed for the women of first category, who were keeping vows. They had to beg for alms in their own house and observe eightfold celibacy. In case of the second category, marriage was allowed after thread-ceremony. This has been prohibited in the Kaliyuga for women because of their intellect. 29 - 30. 

Tendency of earning livelihood of Brahmin. 

For Brahmins, there are three means of livelihood - Teaching, officiating in Vedic sacrifices and accepting donations from pious people. If a Brahmin finds acceptance of gifts affecting his penance, self-respect and reputation, he may earn his livelihood from the first two means only. However, if he finds flaws in those means as well, then he may live on the food grains fallen in the field. Moreover, he may live on the following four occupations, by way of primary and secondary alternatives, just to sustain his body, if it comes to the question of his livelihood. A Brahmin’s livelihood is to be got from the following four occupations. These are: agriculture and the allied ones i.e. cow- keeping etc., unsought income, materials sought as alms, collection of food stuffs fallen in the fields and markets. Among these, the succeeding ones are superior to the preceding ones. 31 - 34. 

Livelihood of Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. 

The livelihood of Kshatriya, mainly depends upon weaponry, protection of the land, defeating the army of the enemy and governance of the kingdom according to political norms. 35. 

The fourfold means of livelihood of Vaishya are called ‘Varta’ and they include agriculture, commerce, rearing of cows, and money lending. 36.

The livelihood of Shudra as told in Smritis is - service to the three classes i.e. Brahmin etc., and sale and purchase of commodities without deceit. 37. 

Shudra class may sell salt, honey, oil, curds, buttermilk, ghee and milk. There accrues no fault to them in this. 38. 

However, sale of liquor and meat, consumption of prohibited food, unlawful relationship with women, and theft cause degradation of Shudras. 39. 

O great Brahmin!, thus I have explained to you, the duties (Dharma-vrusha) of four Varnas, as approved by the Vedas. Now, I shall tell you the duties of men, according to stages of life (i.e. Ashrama) as prescribed by the Vedas, and which are beneficial to all. 40. 

Thus ends the second chapter entitled ‘Narration of the duties of four Varnas’ in the fifth Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra (the rules of the code of conduct). 2