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Vāsudeva-māhātmya · Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Unit 209 of 221Vāsudeva-māhātmya · Chapter 20Vāsudeva-māhātmya · Chapter 201 source entries

Vāsudeva-māhātmya · Chapter 20

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।। नारद उवाच ।। भगवन्ब्रूहि मे धर्ममेकान्तं तव संमतम् ।। प्रीयते येन विश्वात्मा वासुदेवः स सर्वदा ।। १ ।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। साधु पृष्टं त्वया ब्रह्मन्मतिस्ते विमला किल ।। मयि स्निग्धाय भक्ताय तुभ्यं गुह्यमपि ब्रुवे ।। ।। २ ।। धर्म एष मया प्रोक्तः कल्पस्यादौ विवस्वते ।। तमेव कथये तुभ्यं सनातनमहं मुने ।।३।। स्वधर्मज्ञानवैराग्यैः सह लक्ष्मीवदीश्वरे ।। तस्मिन्ननन्या भक्तिर्या धर्म एकान्तिकः स वै ।। ४ ।। तेनैवातिप्रसन्नः स्याद्गोलोकाधिपतिः स्वयम् ।। जायते स च भक्तोपि परिपूर्णमनोरथः ।। ५ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। लक्षणानि बुभुत्सामि स्वधर्मादेः पृथक्पृथक् ।। शास्त्रयोनेरहं त्वत्तो वक्तुं तानि त्वमर्हसि ।। ६ ।। निगमागमशास्त्राणां सर्वेषामपि सत्पते ।। मूलं त्वमेक एवासि येषु धर्मः सनातनः ।। ७ ।। त्वमेव साक्षाद्भगवान्वासुदेवोऽक्षरात्परः ।। श्रेयसे सर्वभूतानां वर्तसेऽत्र दयानिधिः ।। ८ ।। त्वत्तोऽन्ये तु स्वस्वभावगुणतन्त्रा ह्यजादयः ।। यथावन्न विजानीयुर्द्धर्मादींस्त्वमतो वद ।। ९ ।। स्कन्द उवाच ।। इति देवर्षिणा पृष्टो भगवान्धर्मनन्दनः ।। स्वधर्मादीन्क्रमेणैव कथयामास सर्ववित् ।। 2.9.20.१० ।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च सदाचारः पृथक्पृथक् ।। सामान्यः सविशेषश्च स्वधर्मः स उदीर्यते ।। ११ ।। नृणां साधारणं धर्मं सर्वेषामादितः शृणु ।। अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तत्रादिम उदाहृतः ।। १२ ।। स्वमुख्यधर्मवृत्योरप्यद्रोहो मनसापि यः ।। सति गत्यन्तरे प्राणिमात्रस्यापीति सा मता ।। १३ ।। सत्या वाग्भूतमात्रस्य द्रोहो न स्याद्यया तथा ।। तपश्च शास्त्रविहितभोगसंकोचलक्षणम् ।। १४ ।। बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं चेति द्विविधं शौचकर्म च ।। अनादानं परस्वस्य परोक्षं वा छलेन च ।। १५ ।। यथोचितं ब्रह्मचर्यकामलोभक्रुधां जयः ।। मुदा वित्तार्पणं पात्रे तुष्टिर्लब्धेन दैवतः ।। १६ ।। तीर्थे क्षेत्रे च यज्ञादौ चतुर्वर्गाप्तयेपि वा ।। आत्मनो वा परस्यापि सर्वथा घातवर्जनम् ।। १७।। जातिभ्रंशकराणां च कर्मणां परिवर्जनम् ।। पाणिपादोदरोपस्थवाचां संयमनं तथा ।। १८ ।। सर्वेषां व्यसनानां च वर्जनं मद्यमांसयोः ।। व्यभिचारान्निवृत्तिश्च कुलसद्धर्मपालनम् ।। १९ ।। एकादशीनां सर्वासां यमैः साकमुपोषणम् ।। हरेर्जन्मदिनानां च व्रताचरणमञ्जसा ।। 2.9.20.२० ।। आर्जवं साधुसेवा च विभज्याऽन्नादिभोजनम् ।। भक्तिर्भगवतश्चेति धर्माः साधारणा नृणाम् ।। २१ ।। ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशः शूद्रा वर्णाश्चत्वार ईरिताः ।। तेषां पृथक्पृथग्धर्मान्विशेषान्वच्मि ते मुने ।।२२।। शमो दमः क्षमा शौचमास्तिक्यं भक्तिरीशितुः ।। तपो ज्ञानं च विज्ञानं विप्रधर्मः स्वभावजः ।। २३ ।। शूरत्वं धैर्यमौदार्य बलं तेजः शरण्यता।। गोविप्रसाधुरक्षेज्या धर्माः क्षत्रस्य कीर्त्तिताः ।। २४ ।। राज्ञस्त्वेतेऽथ नीत्यैव प्रजानां परिपालनम् ।। धर्मसंस्थापनं भूमौ धर्मा दण्डार्हदण्डनम् ।। २५ ।। आस्तिक्यं दाननिष्ठा च साधुब्राह्मणसेवनम् ।। अतुष्टिरर्थोपचये धर्मा वैश्यस्य चोद्यमः ।। २६ ।। द्विजातीनां च देवानां सेवा निष्कपटं गवाम् ।। विशेषधर्मः कथितः शूद्रस्य मुनिसत्तम ।। २७ ।। अध्यापनं याजनं च विशुद्धाच्च प्रतिग्रहः ।। विप्रस्य जीविका प्रोक्ता तत्रान्त्या त्वापदि स्मृता ।। २८ ।। याजनेऽध्यापने वापि दोषदर्शी द्विजोत्तमः ।। यस्तस्याऽन्यापि विहिता वृत्तिरस्ति चतुर्विधा ।। २९ ।। शिलोञ्छ नित्ययाच्ञा च शालीनं चोचिता कृषिः ।। श्रेयसी पूर्वपूर्वाऽत्र ज्ञातव्या द्विजसत्तमैः ।। 2.9.20.३० ।। विप्रो जीवेद्वैश्यवृत्त्या सत्यामापदि नारद ।। अथ वा क्षत्रवृत्त्यापि श्ववृत्त्या न तु कर्हिचित् ।। ३१ ।। शस्त्रेण जीवेत्क्षत्रं तु सर्वतो धर्मरक्षया ।। आपन्नो वैश्यवृत्त्यैव विप्ररूपेण वा चरेत् ।। ३२ ।। करादानादिनृपतेरविप्राद्वृत्तिरीरिता ।। देशकालानुसारेण रञ्जयित्वाऽखिलाः प्रजाः ।। ३३ ।। आपत्कालेपि क्षत्रस्य ब्राह्मणस्येव सर्वथा ।। विगर्हिता नीचसेवा स्वतेजःक्षयकारिणी ।। ३४ ।। कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षा तुरीया वृद्धिजीवनम् ।। वैश्यस्य जीविका प्रोक्ता शूद्रवृत्तिस्तथापदि ।। ३५ ।। शूद्रो जीवेद्द्विजातीनां सेवालब्धधनेन च ।। आपत्काले तु कार्वादेर्जीविकावृत्तिमाश्रयेत् ।। ३६ ।। आपन्मुक्तस्तु सर्वोपि प्रायश्चित्तं यथोचितम् ।। विधाय स्वस्ववृत्त्यैव पुनर्वर्त्तेत मुख्यया ।। ३७ ।। चातुर्वर्ण्यं सतां संगं कुर्यान्न त्वसतां क्वचित् ।। मुक्तिप्रदोस्ति सत्संगः कुसंगो निरयप्रदः ।। ३८ ।। कामं क्रोधं रसास्वादं जित्वा मानं च मत्सरम् ।। निर्दम्भं विष्णुभक्ता ये ते सन्तः साधवो मताः ।। ३९ ।। स्त्रियां स्त्रैणे रसास्वादे सक्ताश्च धनगृध्नवः ।। हिंस्रा दम्भकृताटोपा भक्ताभासा ह्यसाधवः ।। 2.9.20.४० ।। असाधुष्वासुरी संपद्दैवी संपत्तु साधुषु ।। सहजास्तीति निश्चित्य सेव्या सन्तः सुखेप्सुभिः ।। ४१ ।। यादृशां यस्य संगः स्याच्छास्त्राणां वा नृणामपि ।। बुद्धिः स्यात्तादृशी तस्य कार्योऽतो नासतां हि सः ।। ४२ ।। ये साधुसेवारुचयः पुरुषा निजशक्तितः ।। अप्राप्यं नास्ति तेषां वै किमप्यैश्वर्यमूर्जितम् ।। ४३ ।। स्वधर्मस्था अपि सतां द्रोहिणो ये तु मानवाः ।। सद्गतिं नैव ते यान्ति क्वापि केनापि कर्मणा ।। ४४ ।। महापूजारता विष्णोर्भक्ता अपि सतां यदि ।। द्रोहं कुर्युस्तदा तेषु न प्रसीदति स क्वचित् ।। ४५ ।। सद्द्रोहिणस्तु देहान्ते यांयां योनिं ब्रजन्ति च ।। तत्रतत्र क्षुधारोगैः पीड्यन्ते जीवितावधि ।। ४६ ।। सतामतिक्रमादेव पुण्यानां महतामपि ।। सद्यः क्षयः स्यात्सर्वेषामायुषः संपदामपि ।। ४७ ।। तस्मात्सेवा सतां कार्या सर्वैरपि सुखेप्सुभिः ।। पुण्यतीर्थानि सेव्यानि पूज्या विप्राश्च धेनवः ।। ४८ ।। तीर्थानि देवप्रतिमा निन्देयुर्ये कुबुद्धयः ।। तेषां तु जारजातानां वंशोच्छेदो भवेद्ध्रुवम् ।। ४९ ।। एकस्मिंस्तर्पिते विप्रे सद्भोज्यैर्दक्षिणादिभिः ।। तर्पितं स्याज्जगत्सर्वं हरिस्तुष्यति च स्वयम् ।। 2.9.20.५० ।। एकस्मिन्ब्राह्मणे द्रुग्धे द्रुग्धं स्यात्सकलं जगत्।। तस्माच्छक्त्या पूजनीया ब्राह्मणा विष्णुरूपिणः।।५१।। गवामंगेषु तिष्ठन्ति सर्वे देवगणा अपि।। तथा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि तासु तिष्ठन्ति सर्वदा ।। ५२ ।। गव्यर्च्चितायामेकस्यां सर्वे देवाः समर्च्चिताः ।। कृतानि स्युश्च सर्वाणि तीर्थान्यपि च नारद ।। ५३ ।। एकस्या अपि गोर्द्रोहे कृते क्वापि प्रमादतः ।। द्रुग्धाः स्युर्देवताः सर्वास्तीर्थान्यपि च कृत्स्नशः ।। ५४ ।। तस्माच्चातुर्वर्ण्य जनैर्यथोक्तविधिसंस्थितैः ।। भवितव्यं प्रयत्नेन त्रेतव्यं च निषेधतः।।५५।। चातुर्वर्ण्येतरे ये तु तेषां वृत्तिः कुलोचिता ।। चौर्यहिंसाद्यधर्मेण रहितैव हितावहा ।। ५६ ।। वर्णधर्मा इति प्रोक्ताः संक्षेपेण मया मुने ।। चतुर्णामाश्रमाणां च धर्मानथ वदामि ते ।। ५७ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवासुदेवमाहात्म्ये चातुर्वर्ण्यधर्मनिरूपणं नाम विंशोऽध्यायः ।।२०।।

|| nārada uvāca || bhagavanbrūhi me dharmamekāntaṃ tava saṃmatam || prīyate yena viśvātmā vāsudevaḥ sa sarvadā || 1 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || sādhu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā brahmanmatiste vimalā kila || mayi snigdhāya bhaktāya tubhyaṃ guhyamapi bruve || || 2 || dharma eṣa mayā proktaḥ kalpasyādau vivasvate || tameva kathaye tubhyaṃ sanātanamahaṃ mune ||3|| svadharmajñānavairāgyaiḥ saha lakṣmīvadīśvare || tasminnananyā bhaktiryā dharma ekāntikaḥ sa vai || 4 || tenaivātiprasannaḥ syādgolokādhipatiḥ svayam || jāyate sa ca bhaktopi paripūrṇamanorathaḥ || 5 || || nārada uvāca || lakṣaṇāni bubhutsāmi svadharmādeḥ pṛthakpṛthak || śāstrayonerahaṃ tvatto vaktuṃ tāni tvamarhasi || 6 || nigamāgamaśāstrāṇāṃ sarveṣāmapi satpate || mūlaṃ tvameka evāsi yeṣu dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 7 || tvameva sākṣādbhagavānvāsudevo'kṣarātparaḥ || śreyase sarvabhūtānāṃ vartase'tra dayānidhiḥ || 8 || tvatto'nye tu svasvabhāvaguṇatantrā hyajādayaḥ || yathāvanna vijānīyurddharmādīṃstvamato vada || 9 || skanda uvāca || iti devarṣiṇā pṛṣṭo bhagavāndharmanandanaḥ || svadharmādīnkrameṇaiva kathayāmāsa sarvavit || 2.9.20.10 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || varṇānāmāśramāṇāṃ ca sadācāraḥ pṛthakpṛthak || sāmānyaḥ saviśeṣaśca svadharmaḥ sa udīryate || 11 || nṛṇāṃ sādhāraṇaṃ dharmaṃ sarveṣāmāditaḥ śṛṇu || ahiṃsā paramo dharmastatrādima udāhṛtaḥ || 12 || svamukhyadharmavṛtyorapyadroho manasāpi yaḥ || sati gatyantare prāṇimātrasyāpīti sā matā || 13 || satyā vāgbhūtamātrasya droho na syādyayā tathā || tapaśca śāstravihitabhogasaṃkocalakṣaṇam || 14 || bāhyamābhyantaraṃ ceti dvividhaṃ śaucakarma ca || anādānaṃ parasvasya parokṣaṃ vā chalena ca || 15 || yathocitaṃ brahmacaryakāmalobhakrudhāṃ jayaḥ || mudā vittārpaṇaṃ pātre tuṣṭirlabdhena daivataḥ || 16 || tīrthe kṣetre ca yajñādau caturvargāptayepi vā || ātmano vā parasyāpi sarvathā ghātavarjanam || 17|| jātibhraṃśakarāṇāṃ ca karmaṇāṃ parivarjanam || pāṇipādodaropasthavācāṃ saṃyamanaṃ tathā || 18 || sarveṣāṃ vyasanānāṃ ca varjanaṃ madyamāṃsayoḥ || vyabhicārānnivṛttiśca kulasaddharmapālanam || 19 || ekādaśīnāṃ sarvāsāṃ yamaiḥ sākamupoṣaṇam || harerjanmadinānāṃ ca vratācaraṇamañjasā || 2.9.20.20 || ārjavaṃ sādhusevā ca vibhajyā'nnādibhojanam || bhaktirbhagavataśceti dharmāḥ sādhāraṇā nṛṇām || 21 || brahmakṣatraviśaḥ śūdrā varṇāścatvāra īritāḥ || teṣāṃ pṛthakpṛthagdharmānviśeṣānvacmi te mune ||22|| śamo damaḥ kṣamā śaucamāstikyaṃ bhaktirīśituḥ || tapo jñānaṃ ca vijñānaṃ vipradharmaḥ svabhāvajaḥ || 23 || śūratvaṃ dhairyamaudārya balaṃ tejaḥ śaraṇyatā|| goviprasādhurakṣejyā dharmāḥ kṣatrasya kīrttitāḥ || 24 || rājñastvete'tha nītyaiva prajānāṃ paripālanam || dharmasaṃsthāpanaṃ bhūmau dharmā daṇḍārhadaṇḍanam || 25 || āstikyaṃ dānaniṣṭhā ca sādhubrāhmaṇasevanam || atuṣṭirarthopacaye dharmā vaiśyasya codyamaḥ || 26 || dvijātīnāṃ ca devānāṃ sevā niṣkapaṭaṃ gavām || viśeṣadharmaḥ kathitaḥ śūdrasya munisattama || 27 || adhyāpanaṃ yājanaṃ ca viśuddhācca pratigrahaḥ || viprasya jīvikā proktā tatrāntyā tvāpadi smṛtā || 28 || yājane'dhyāpane vāpi doṣadarśī dvijottamaḥ || yastasyā'nyāpi vihitā vṛttirasti caturvidhā || 29 || śiloñcha nityayācñā ca śālīnaṃ cocitā kṛṣiḥ || śreyasī pūrvapūrvā'tra jñātavyā dvijasattamaiḥ || 2.9.20.30 || vipro jīvedvaiśyavṛttyā satyāmāpadi nārada || atha vā kṣatravṛttyāpi śvavṛttyā na tu karhicit || 31 || śastreṇa jīvetkṣatraṃ tu sarvato dharmarakṣayā || āpanno vaiśyavṛttyaiva viprarūpeṇa vā caret || 32 || karādānādinṛpateraviprādvṛttirīritā || deśakālānusāreṇa rañjayitvā'khilāḥ prajāḥ || 33 || āpatkālepi kṣatrasya brāhmaṇasyeva sarvathā || vigarhitā nīcasevā svatejaḥkṣayakāriṇī || 34 || kṛṣivāṇijyagorakṣā turīyā vṛddhijīvanam || vaiśyasya jīvikā proktā śūdravṛttistathāpadi || 35 || śūdro jīveddvijātīnāṃ sevālabdhadhanena ca || āpatkāle tu kārvāderjīvikāvṛttimāśrayet || 36 || āpanmuktastu sarvopi prāyaścittaṃ yathocitam || vidhāya svasvavṛttyaiva punarvartteta mukhyayā || 37 || cāturvarṇyaṃ satāṃ saṃgaṃ kuryānna tvasatāṃ kvacit || muktipradosti satsaṃgaḥ kusaṃgo nirayapradaḥ || 38 || kāmaṃ krodhaṃ rasāsvādaṃ jitvā mānaṃ ca matsaram || nirdambhaṃ viṣṇubhaktā ye te santaḥ sādhavo matāḥ || 39 || striyāṃ straiṇe rasāsvāde saktāśca dhanagṛdhnavaḥ || hiṃsrā dambhakṛtāṭopā bhaktābhāsā hyasādhavaḥ || 2.9.20.40 || asādhuṣvāsurī saṃpaddaivī saṃpattu sādhuṣu || sahajāstīti niścitya sevyā santaḥ sukhepsubhiḥ || 41 || yādṛśāṃ yasya saṃgaḥ syācchāstrāṇāṃ vā nṛṇāmapi || buddhiḥ syāttādṛśī tasya kāryo'to nāsatāṃ hi saḥ || 42 || ye sādhusevārucayaḥ puruṣā nijaśaktitaḥ || aprāpyaṃ nāsti teṣāṃ vai kimapyaiśvaryamūrjitam || 43 || svadharmasthā api satāṃ drohiṇo ye tu mānavāḥ || sadgatiṃ naiva te yānti kvāpi kenāpi karmaṇā || 44 || mahāpūjāratā viṣṇorbhaktā api satāṃ yadi || drohaṃ kuryustadā teṣu na prasīdati sa kvacit || 45 || saddrohiṇastu dehānte yāṃyāṃ yoniṃ brajanti ca || tatratatra kṣudhārogaiḥ pīḍyante jīvitāvadhi || 46 || satāmatikramādeva puṇyānāṃ mahatāmapi || sadyaḥ kṣayaḥ syātsarveṣāmāyuṣaḥ saṃpadāmapi || 47 || tasmātsevā satāṃ kāryā sarvairapi sukhepsubhiḥ || puṇyatīrthāni sevyāni pūjyā viprāśca dhenavaḥ || 48 || tīrthāni devapratimā nindeyurye kubuddhayaḥ || teṣāṃ tu jārajātānāṃ vaṃśocchedo bhaveddhruvam || 49 || ekasmiṃstarpite vipre sadbhojyairdakṣiṇādibhiḥ || tarpitaṃ syājjagatsarvaṃ haristuṣyati ca svayam || 2.9.20.50 || ekasminbrāhmaṇe drugdhe drugdhaṃ syātsakalaṃ jagat|| tasmācchaktyā pūjanīyā brāhmaṇā viṣṇurūpiṇaḥ||51|| gavāmaṃgeṣu tiṣṭhanti sarve devagaṇā api|| tathā sarvāṇi tīrthāni tāsu tiṣṭhanti sarvadā || 52 || gavyarccitāyāmekasyāṃ sarve devāḥ samarccitāḥ || kṛtāni syuśca sarvāṇi tīrthānyapi ca nārada || 53 || ekasyā api gordrohe kṛte kvāpi pramādataḥ || drugdhāḥ syurdevatāḥ sarvāstīrthānyapi ca kṛtsnaśaḥ || 54 || tasmāccāturvarṇya janairyathoktavidhisaṃsthitaiḥ || bhavitavyaṃ prayatnena tretavyaṃ ca niṣedhataḥ||55|| cāturvarṇyetare ye tu teṣāṃ vṛttiḥ kulocitā || cauryahiṃsādyadharmeṇa rahitaiva hitāvahā || 56 || varṇadharmā iti proktāḥ saṃkṣepeṇa mayā mune || caturṇāmāśramāṇāṃ ca dharmānatha vadāmi te || 57 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīvāsudevamāhātmye cāturvarṇyadharmanirūpaṇaṃ nāma viṃśo'dhyāyaḥ ||20||

English translation

Nārada said :

1. O Lord! Expound to me the Ekānta Dharma as approved by you, whereby the Universal Soul, Vāsudeva , gets always pleased.

Śrī Nārāyaṇa replied :

2. O Brāhmaṇa , you have asked very well. Certainly your intellect is pure. I shall tell even a secret to you, a devotee who are attached to me.

3. At the beginning of the Kalpa this Dharma was proclaimed by me to Vivasvān . I shall communicate that very ancient Dharma to you, O sage.

4. That is verily the Ekāntika Dharma which is undivided devotion exclusively to the Lord as it is to Lakṣmī and is accompanied by the knowledge of one’s own Dharma and disaffection to objects of worldly enjoyment.

5. Thereby the ruler of Goloka himself becomes extremely pleased, and even the devotee has all his wishes fully accomplished.

Nārada asked :

6. I have a desire to know separately the characteristics of Svadharma (personal duties) from you who are the source of Śāstras . It behoves you to relate them to me.

7. You alone are the root (source of origin) of all Vedas , Āgamas and Śāstras including the eternal Dharma, O good Lord.

8. You alone are the Lord Vāsudeva incarnate, who is beyond the perishable (objects). You, a store of mercy, stay here for the welfare of all beings.

9. God Brahmā and others who are other than you, are controlled by their respective natural Guṇas . They do not know Dharma and oṃer (related things) as they truly are. Hence narrate it (to me).

Skanda said :

10. Lord Nārāyaṇa , the omniscient son of Dharma, who was thus asked by the Divine sages ( Narada ), narrated to him in due order, the personal Dharma etc.

Śrī Nārāyaṇa said :

11. The moral conduct is different for (different) Varṇas (castes) and stages of life. That is called Svadharma and is general as well as special.

12. At first listen to the Dharma (duty) common to all men. [1] Noninjury ( Ahiṃsā ) is proclaimed to be the first supreme duty.

13. ( Obscure ) Among one’s main moral inclinations what is called absence of ill will even of the mental type, in a provocative situation, towards any living being, is known as Ahiṃsā or non-injury.

14. Truth is that speech whereby no injury is caused to living beings. Penance is characterised by the diminution (reduction in) of the enjoyment (of objects) permitted by the scriptures.

15. Purification is of two types, external and internal. Non-taking of what belongs to others either in his absence or by deceit (is nonstealth).

16-21. Proper celibacy; restraint of the passions or desires, greed and anger; gladly donating wealth to a suitable person; satisfaction with what one gets through luck; total renunciation of injury at holy places or in sacrifices and other religious acts or for obtaining the four ends of human life either for one’s self or for others; avoidance of acts which cause fall from one’s caste; restraint of (movement of) hands and fed, stomach (i.e. eating), the organ of generation (sex) and speech; avoidance of wine and meat and all vices; abstaining from adultery; observance of the traditional good practices of one’s family; observance of fast along with the (prescribed ten restraints) on the eleventh day of the dark and bright half of the month; proper observance of the specific Vrata of the birthday of Hari ; straightforwardness; service of saints; taking food after its distribution (as per prescribed rules); acts of devotion unto the Lord—These are duties common to all men. [2]

22. Brāhamaṇas, Kṣatriyas , Vaiśyas and Śūdras —These are spoken as the four Varṇas (Castes). I shall now narrate the specific duties of each to you, O sage.

23. The natural duties of a Brāhmaṇa are quiescence, [3] self-control, forgiveness, purity, faith in Vedas, devotion to the Lord, penance, knowledge of Brahman and worldly knowledge.

24. The following are declared as the duties of Kṣatriyas: Bravery (i.e. performance of acts of bravery); courage; generosity; strength; dignity; fitness to be a refuge; protection of cows, Brāhmaṇas and saints; performance of sacrifices.

25. The duties of a king are as follows: Protecting the subjects; establishing Dharma on the earth; and administering punishment to those who deserve it.

26. The duties of a Vaiśya are: faith in the Vedas; doing acts of charity; rendering service to saintly persons and Brāhmaṇas; non-satisfaction in acquisition of wealth; and assiduous efforts.

27. O excellent sages, the specific duty of a Śūdra as proclaimed is: faithful (without any fraud or deceit) service of twice-born castes, Devas and cows.

28. The means of livelihood prescribed for a Brāhmaṇa are: teaching, performance of sacrifices, acceptance of a gift from a pure person. Out of these, the last is laid down in case of adversity.

29-30. Four types of other means of livelihood are prescribed for an excellent Brāhmaṇa who finds fault with performance of sacrifice and teaching (as means of livehood). (They are) gleaning ears of com, constant mendicancy, settled householdership and proper agriculture. It should be noted by excellent Brāhmaṇas that herein the preceding one (i.e. mode of livelihood) is more conducive to welfare than the succeeding one.

31. In case of an emergency [4] a Brāmaṇa should maintain himself by adopting the mode of livelihood of a Vaiśya or that of a Kṣatriya but never the mode of a dog ( Cāṇḍāla ?).

32. A Kṣatriya should earn his living by weapons (military profession) while protecting Dharma. In emergency he should follow the means of livelihood of a Vaiśya or should move about in the guise of a Brāhmaṇa.

33. The means of living for a king is declared to be collection of taxes, except from Brāhmaṇas, and from other sources, after keeping contented all the subjects according to the exigencies of time and place.

34. Even in emergency, the service of a low person is totally prohibited to Kṣatriyas and Brāhmaṇas, as that reduces one’s lustre.

35. In the case of a Vaiśya the mode of livelihood is spoken (as consisting of) agriculture, trade and commerce and tending of cows and lending money on interest as the fourth, but in emergency he may follow the Śūdra mode of livelihood.

36. A Śudra should maintain himself on the money earned by service rendered to twice-born castes. In emergency he should follow the mode of livelihood of artisans etc.

37. When all of them become free after averting the emergency, they should perform the expiation proper for them and again take up their respective main vocations as means of livelihood.

38. (Persons belonging to) the four castes should associate themselves with saintly people and never with bad people. Association with the good leads to liberation, while company with evil persons leads to hell.

39. Those who, having subdued erotic passion, anger, taste for flavours, pride, jealousy, hypocrisy, are the devotees of Viṣṇu , are regarded as saintly persons.

40. Those who are addicted to sexual pleasure in the company of women, greedy after wealth, murderous, self-conceited through hyprocrisy and who pose to be devotees, are bad people.

41. Having ascertained that by nature Asura type of prosperity is (found) among bad people and the Deva type of affluence is (seen) among the good, good and saintly persons should be resorted to and served by those desirous of happiness.

42. The intellect (of a person) assumes a shape in accordance with the kind of Śāstras (scriptures) and people he associates with. Hence no association should be had with bad people (and heretic scriptures).

43. To persons who like to render service to saintly persons, any type of superior affluence or excellent power or divine faculties are not unobtainable through dint of their power.

44. Men who, though established in their Dharma, bear malice to saintly persons, shall never attain a happy state or beatitude anywhere by performing any act.

45. If devotees of Viṣṇu who are devoted to the great worship (of the god) bear hatred towards saintly persons, he (Viṣṇu) will never be propitious unto them.

46. In whatever species the haters of saintly people are born after death, they will be harassed with hunger and disease throughout their life (up to death).

47. Merely by doing disrespect to good (saintly) people, there is an instantaneous annihilation even of a mass of merit, (span of) life and wealth of all people.

48. Therefore, service should be rendered to saintly persons by all those who desire happiness. Sacred places should be resorted to Brāhmaṇas and cows should be worshipped.

49. Those evil-minded people who denigrate holy places and idols of gods, are bastards and will certainly have exinction of their family line.

50. If one Brāhmaṇa is satisfied by receiving excellent meal, Dakṣiṇā and other things, the whole world is satisfied. Hari himself is pleased with him.

51. If one Brāhmaṇa is harmed (it is as good as) the whole world is hurt. Therefore, Brāhmaṇas who are (this-worldly) forms of Viṣṇu shall be worshipped and honoured according to one’s capacity. [5]

52. Even all multitudes of Devas abide in the limbs (body) of cows. All holy places exist in them.

53. When one cow is worshipped, all Devas get worshipped and all sacred places get visited, O Nārada .

54. If out of mistake or negligence, hurt or injury is caused to one cow anywhere, all the deities are hurt and holy places are damaged.

55. Therefore, people born in the four Varṇas should behave as per injunctions and should abstain from what is prohibited.

56. Those who are beyond the pale of four Varṇas, their conduct conforming to their family requirements will be conducive to their welfare if it is devoid of unrighteousness like stealing, violence etc.

57. Thus the duties of Varṇas have been briefly proclaimed by me, O sage. Now, I shall tell you the duties of the four stages of life ( Āśramas ).

[1]: [1] : Cf. ahiṃsā satyam asteyaṃ śaucam indriyanigrahaḥ / evaṃ sāmāsikaṃ dharmaṃ cāturvarṇye bravīn manuḥ // ( Manu X.63)

[2]: [2] : There is a close similarity in the items included in Sādhāraṇa Dharmas (duties common to all men) in ancient texts like Viṣṇu Dharma Sūtra , 11.16-17; Āpastaṃba Dh.S . 1.8.23-6; Mbh, Śānti 60.7-8,297.24-25; Brahma P. 114.16-18. The speciality of our Pāñcarātra text is the inclusion of the Ekādaśī Vrata and observance of the birthday of Hari (e.g. Gokula Aṣṭamī).

[3]: [3] : VV 23-27; cf. BG XVIII. 42-44.

[4]: [4] : For Āpad Dharmas (i.e. duties in emergency) cf HD II.i, pp. 118-30.

[5]: [5] : This deification of Brāhmaṇas is found in Vedic times also, e.g. ete vai devāḥ pratyakṣaṃ yad brāhmaṇāḥ ( Taittirīya Saṃhitā 1.7.3.1). Also cī. Śatapatha XII.4.46; Tait. Āraṇyaka 11.15.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23191, revision 71869 (2016-06-24T10:19:09Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371759.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.