Parashara on Livelihood and the Fall of Peoples from Dharma

Verse 1 (12.300.1)

प्रतिग्रहार्जिता विप्रे क्षत्रिये युधि निर्जिताः । वैश्ये न्यायार्जिताश्चैव शूद्रे शुश्रूषयार्जिताः ॥

pratigrahārjitā vipre kṣatriye yudhi nirjitāḥ | vaiśye nyāyārjitāścaiva śūdre śuśrūṣayārjitāḥ

Parashara said: "For a brahmin, wealth is what he gains by accepting gifts; for a kshatriya, what he wins by conquest in battle; for a vaishya, what he earns by just means; and for a shudra, what he earns by service.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.283.1a, 1c (pratigrahāgatā vipre kṣatriye śastranirjitāḥ / vaiśye nyāyārjitāś caiva śūdre śuśrūṣayārjitāḥ); Wikisource's प्रतिग्रहार्जिता … क्षत्रिये युधि निर्जिताः is a recension variant (the page's footnote cites प्रतिग्रहागता as another reading), kept as printed. The page heads the adhyaya with Parashara's speech (12-300-1x).

Verse 2 (12.300.2)

स्वल्पाऽप्यर्थाः प्रशस्यन्ते धर्मस्यार्थे महाफलाः । नित्यं त्रयाणां वर्णानां शुश्रूषुः शूद्र उच्यते ॥

svalpā'pyarthāḥ praśasyante dharmasyārthe mahāphalāḥ | nityaṃ trayāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ śuśrūṣuḥ śūdra ucyate

Even small riches are praised when they serve dharma, and they bear great fruit. One who always serves the three classes is called a shudra.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 1 = CE 12.283.1e (svalpāpy arthāḥ praśasyante dharmasyārthe mahāphalāḥ); line 2 = CE 12.283.2a (nityaṃ trayāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ śūdraḥ śuśrūṣur ucyate), with Wikisource's word order शुश्रूषुः शूद्र उच्यते.

Verse 3 (12.300.3)

क्षत्रधर्मा वैश्यधर्मा नावृत्तिः पतते द्विजः । शूद्रधर्मा यदा तु स्यात्तदा पतति वै द्विजः ॥

kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā nāvṛttiḥ patate dvijaḥ | śūdradharmā yadā tu syāttadā patati vai dvijaḥ

A twice-born man who is without a livelihood does not fall if he follows the dharma of a kshatriya or of a vaishya; but when he comes to follow the dharma of a shudra, then the twice-born does indeed fall.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.283.2c, 2e (kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā nāvṛttiḥ patati dvijaḥ / śūdrakarmā yadā tu syāt tadā patati vai dvijaḥ); Wikisource's शूद्रधर्मा for śūdrakarmā is a variant.

Verse 4 (12.300.4)

वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं च तथा शिल्पोपजीवनम् । शूद्रस्यापि विधीयन्ते यदा वृत्तिर्न जायते ॥

vāṇijyaṃ pāśupālyaṃ ca tathā śilpopajīvanam | śūdrasyāpi vidhīyante yadā vṛttirna jāyate

Trade, herding, and living by the crafts are prescribed even for a shudra, when no livelihood comes to him.

Note on the text: Corrected शिल्पोपजिवनम् → शिल्पोपजीवनम् (misprint in Wikisource; short इ for ई, CE śilpopajīvanam) and सूद्रस्य → शूद्रस्य (misprint in Wikisource; सूद्र is not a word, CE śūdrasya).

Verse 5 (12.300.5)

रङ्गावतरणं चैव तथा रूपोपजीवनम् । मद्यमांसोपजीव्यं च विक्रयं लोहचर्मणोः ॥

raṅgāvataraṇaṃ caiva tathā rūpopajīvanam | madyamāṃsopajīvyaṃ ca vikrayaṃ lohacarmaṇoḥ

Going on the stage, living by one's looks, living by liquor and meat, and the sale of iron and hides—

Verse 6 (12.300.6)

अपूर्विणा न कर्तव्यं कर्म लोके विगर्हितम् । कृतपूर्विणस्तु त्यजतो महान्धर्म इति श्रुतिः ॥

apūrviṇā na kartavyaṃ karma loke vigarhitam | kṛtapūrviṇastu tyajato mahāndharma iti śrutiḥ

such censured work in the world must not be undertaken by one who has not done it before; and for one who has done it before, giving it up is a great dharma. So the tradition says.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रूतिः → श्रुतिः (misprint in Wikisource; long ऊ for उ, CE śrutiḥ).

Verse 7 (12.300.7)

संसिद्धः पुरुषो लोके यदाचरति पापकम् । मदेनाभिप्लुतमनास्तच्च न ग्राह्यमुच्यते ॥

saṃsiddhaḥ puruṣo loke yadācarati pāpakam | madenābhiplutamanāstacca na grāhyamucyate

Whatever evil an accomplished man in the world may do, with a mind flooded by pride, that is not to be taken up by others, it is said.

Verse 8 (12.300.8)

श्रूयन्ते हि पुराणेषु प्रजा धिग्दण्डशासनाः । दान्ता धर्मप्रधानाश्च न्यायधर्मानुवृत्तिकाः ॥

śrūyante hi purāṇeṣu prajā dhigdaṇḍaśāsanāḥ | dāntā dharmapradhānāśca nyāyadharmānuvṛttikāḥ

It is heard in the Puranas that there were peoples governed by the rule of reproach, the rod of 'shame on you'; self-controlled, foremost in dharma, and following the law of justice.

Verse 9 (12.300.9)

धर्म एव सदा नॄणामिह राजन्प्रशस्यते । धर्मवृद्धा गुणानेव सेवन्ते हि नरा भुवि ॥

dharma eva sadā nṝṇāmiha rājanpraśasyate | dharmavṛddhā guṇāneva sevante hi narā bhuvi

Among men here, O king, it is dharma alone that is always praised; those grown strong in dharma practise only virtues on earth.

Verse 10 (12.300.10)

तं धर्ममसुरास्तात नामृष्यन्त नराधिप । विवर्धमानाः क्रमशस्तत्र तेऽन्वाविशन्प्रजाः ॥

taṃ dharmamasurāstāta nāmṛṣyanta narādhipa | vivardhamānāḥ kramaśastatra te'nvāviśanprajāḥ

That dharma the asuras could not bear, dear one, O lord of men; growing step by step, they entered into those peoples.

Verse 11 (12.300.11)

तासां दर्पः समभवत्प्रजानां धर्मनाशनः । दर्पात्मनां ततः पश्चात्क्रोधस्तासामजायत ॥

tāsāṃ darpaḥ samabhavatprajānāṃ dharmanāśanaḥ | darpātmanāṃ tataḥ paścātkrodhastāsāmajāyata

Pride arose among those people, the destroyer of dharma; and then, in those whose nature was pride, anger was born.

Verse 12 (12.300.12)

ततः क्रोधाभिभूतानां वृत्तं लज्जासमन्वितम् । ह्रीश्चैवाप्यनशद्राजंस्ततो मोहो व्यजायत ॥

tataḥ krodhābhibhūtānāṃ vṛttaṃ lajjāsamanvitam | hrīścaivāpyanaśadrājaṃstato moho vyajāyata

Then, in those overcome by anger, their modest way of life was lost, and shame itself vanished, O king; after that, delusion was born.

Verse 13 (12.300.13)

ततो मोहपरीतास्ता नापश्यन्त यथा पुरा । परस्परावमर्देन वर्धयन्त्यो यथासुखम् ॥

tato mohaparītāstā nāpaśyanta yathā purā | parasparāvamardena vardhayantyo yathāsukham

Then, enveloped in delusion, they no longer saw as before; they prospered as they pleased by trampling one another down.

Verse 14 (12.300.14)

ताः प्राप्य तु स धिग्दण्डो न कारणमतो भवत् । ततोऽभ्यगच्छन्देवांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चावमन्य ह ॥

tāḥ prāpya tu sa dhigdaṇḍo na kāraṇamato bhavat | tato'bhyagacchandevāṃśca brāhmaṇāṃścāvamanya ha

When it reached them, that rod of reproach was no longer a cause of restraint. Then they went against the gods, holding gods and brahmins alike in contempt.

Verse 15 (12.300.15)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवा देववरं शिवम् । अगच्छञ्शरणं धीरं बहुरूपं गुणाधिकम् ॥

etasminneva kāle tu devā devavaraṃ śivam | agacchañśaraṇaṃ dhīraṃ bahurūpaṃ guṇādhikam

At that very time the gods went for refuge to Shiva, the best of the gods, steadfast, of many forms, surpassing in good qualities.

Verse 16 (12.300.16)

तेन स्म ते गगनगाः सपुराः पातिताः क्षितौ । त्रिधाऽप्येकेन बाणेन देवाप्यायिततेजसा ॥

tena sma te gaganagāḥ sapurāḥ pātitāḥ kṣitau | tridhā'pyekena bāṇena devāpyāyitatejasā

By him, with a single arrow whose power the gods had fed, they, the sky-roving ones, were cast down to earth with their cities, all three.

Verse 17 (12.300.17)

तेषामधिपतिस्त्वासीद्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः । देवतानां भयकरः स हतः शूलपाणिना ॥

teṣāmadhipatistvāsīdbhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | devatānāṃ bhayakaraḥ sa hataḥ śūlapāṇinā

Their lord was a dread being of dreadful valour, a terror to the gods; he was slain by the wielder of the trident.

Verse 18 (12.300.18)

तस्मिन्हतेऽथ स्वं भावं प्रत्यपद्यन्त मानवाः । प्रावर्तन्त च वै वेदाः शास्त्राणि च यथा पुरा ॥

tasminhate'tha svaṃ bhāvaṃ pratyapadyanta mānavāḥ | prāvartanta ca vai vedāḥ śāstrāṇi ca yathā purā

When he was slain, men returned to their own natural state; and the Vedas and the sciences went on again as before.

Verse 19 (12.300.19)

ततोऽभिषिच्य राज्येन देवानां दिवि वासवम् । सप्तर्षयश्चान्वयुञ्जन्नराणां दण्डधारणे ॥

tato'bhiṣicya rājyena devānāṃ divi vāsavam | saptarṣayaścānvayuñjannarāṇāṃ daṇḍadhāraṇe

Then, having anointed Vasava as king of the gods in heaven, the Seven Sages assigned the holding of the rod over men.

Verse 20 (12.300.20)

सप्तर्षीणामथोर्ध्वं च विपृथुर्नाम पार्थिवः । राजानः क्षत्रियाश्चैव मण्डलेषु पृथक्पृथक् ॥

saptarṣīṇāmathordhvaṃ ca vipṛthurnāma pārthivaḥ | rājānaḥ kṣatriyāścaiva maṇḍaleṣu pṛthakpṛthak

Above the Seven Sages stood a king named Viprithu; and kings and kshatriyas were set over the separate realms.

Verse 21 (12.300.21)

महाकुलेषु ये जाता वृद्धाः पूर्वतराश्च ये । तेषामप्यासुरो भावो हृदयान्नापसर्पति ॥

mahākuleṣu ye jātā vṛddhāḥ pūrvatarāśca ye | teṣāmapyāsuro bhāvo hṛdayānnāpasarpati

Among those born in great families, the elders and those of earlier times, the asura disposition does not leave the heart.

Verse 22 (12.300.22)

तस्मात्तेनैव भावेन सानुषङ्गेण पार्थिवाः । आसुराण्येव कर्माणि न्यसेवन्भीमविक्रमाः ॥

tasmāttenaiva bhāvena sānuṣaṅgeṇa pārthivāḥ | āsurāṇyeva karmāṇi nyasevanbhīmavikramāḥ

Therefore, through that same disposition clinging to them, the kings of dreadful might practised only asura deeds.

Verse 23 (12.300.23)

प्रत्यतिष्ठंश्च तेष्वेव तान्येव स्थापयन्त्यपि । भजन्ते तानि चाद्यापि ये बालिशतरा नराः ॥

pratyatiṣṭhaṃśca teṣveva tānyeva sthāpayantyapi | bhajante tāni cādyāpi ye bāliśatarā narāḥ

They stood firm in those very deeds and established those same practices; and even today the most foolish of men follow them.

Verse 24 (12.300.24)

तस्मादहं ब्रवीमि त्वां राजन्संचिन्त्य शास्त्रतः । संसिद्धावागमं कुर्यात्कर्म हिंसात्मकं त्यजेत् ॥

tasmādahaṃ bravīmi tvāṃ rājansaṃcintya śāstrataḥ | saṃsiddhāvāgamaṃ kuryātkarma hiṃsātmakaṃ tyajet

Therefore, O king, I tell you after reflecting on the scriptures: one should aim at perfection and give up work bent on harm.

Verse 25 (12.300.25)

न संकरेण द्रविणं प्रचिन्वीयाद्विचक्षणः । धर्मार्थं न्यायमुत्सृज्य न तत्कल्याणमुच्यते ॥

na saṃkareṇa draviṇaṃ pracinvīyādvicakṣaṇaḥ | dharmārthaṃ nyāyamutsṛjya na tatkalyāṇamucyate

A discerning man should not heap up wealth by confusion and mixing of means. To give up justice, even for the sake of dharma, is not called good.

Verse 26 (12.300.26)

स त्वमेवंविधो दान्तः क्षत्रियः प्रियबान्धवः । प्रजा भृत्यांश्च पुत्रांश्च स्वधर्मेणानुपालय ॥

sa tvamevaṃvidho dāntaḥ kṣatriyaḥ priyabāndhavaḥ | prajā bhṛtyāṃśca putrāṃśca svadharmeṇānupālaya

You, being such a man, self-controlled, a kshatriya, dear to your kinsmen, protect your subjects, your servants and your sons according to your own dharma.

Verse 27 (12.300.27)

इष्टानिष्टसमायोगे वैरं सौहार्दमेव च । अथ जातिसहस्राणि बहूनि परिवर्तते ॥

iṣṭāniṣṭasamāyoge vairaṃ sauhārdameva ca | atha jātisahasrāṇi bahūni parivartate

In meeting with the liked and the disliked come enmity and friendship alike; and so one wheels round through many thousands of births.

Verse 28 (12.300.28)

तस्माद्गुणेषु रज्येथा मा दोषेषु कथंचन । निर्गुणोऽपि हि दुर्बुद्धिरात्मनः सोऽरिरुच्यते ॥

tasmādguṇeṣu rajyethā mā doṣeṣu kathaṃcana | nirguṇo'pi hi durbuddhirātmanaḥ so'rirucyate

Therefore take delight in virtues, and never in faults; for the ill-minded man, though he is without virtue, is called his own enemy.

Note on the text: Corrected सोतिरिच्यते → सोऽरिरुच्यते (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha is dropped and the word is garbled, and 'he surpasses himself' gives no sense after निर्गुणोऽपि हि दुर्बुद्धिः; the critical edition reads so 'rir ucyate, 'he is called his enemy'). Line 1 differs slightly from CE (kathaṃcana for kadā cana), a variant.

Verse 29 (12.300.29)

मानुषेषु महाराज धर्माधर्मौ प्रवर्ततः । न तथाऽन्येषु भूतेषु मनुष्यरहितेष्विह ॥

mānuṣeṣu mahārāja dharmādharmau pravartataḥ | na tathā'nyeṣu bhūteṣu manuṣyarahiteṣviha

Among human beings, great king, dharma and adharma are at work; not so among other creatures here, which lack the human state.

Verse 30 (12.300.30)

धर्मशीलो नरो विद्वानीहकोऽनीहकोऽपि वा । आत्मभूतः सदा लोके चरेद्भूतान्यहिंसया ॥

dharmaśīlo naro vidvānīhako'nīhako'pi vā | ātmabhūtaḥ sadā loke caredbhūtānyahiṃsayā

A learned man devoted to dharma, whether he strives for gain or not, should move in the world as the self of all beings, harming none.

Note on the text: Corrected ईहकोऽनीहकोपि → ईहकोऽनीहकोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha of कोऽपि is dropped, CE 'nīhako 'pi).

Verse 31 (12.300.31)

यदा व्यपेतहृल्लेखं मनो भवति तस्य वै । नानृतं चैव भवति तदा कल्याणमृच्छति ॥

yadā vyapetahṛllekhaṃ mano bhavati tasya vai | nānṛtaṃ caiva bhavati tadā kalyāṇamṛcchati

When his mind becomes free from the torment of the heart, and there is no falsehood in him, then he attains what is good."