Verse 10.101 [The Brāhmaṇa in Times of Distress]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

वैश्यवृत्तिमनातिष्ठन् ब्राह्मणः स्वे पथि स्थितः ।
अवृत्तिकर्षितः सीदन्निमं धर्मं समाचरेत् ॥ १०१ ॥

vaiśyavṛttimanātiṣṭhan brāhmaṇaḥ sve pathi sthitaḥ |
avṛttikarṣitaḥ sīdannimaṃ dharmaṃ samācaret || 101 ||

If a Brāhmaṇa, distressed through want of livelihood, pines, because resolved to stick to his own path, he does not adopt the occupation of the Vaiśya,—he shall adopt this (following) procedure.—(101)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Does not adopt’—i.e., being unwilling to adopt What this means is that, in the event of the Kṣatriya’s occupation being not available, he may have recourse either to the receiving of gifts from wrong persons or to the occupation of the Vaiśya,—both these standing on the same footing; the occupation of the Kṣatriya however would be superior to the receiving of improper gifts.

Or, ‘does not adopt the occupation of the Vaiśya’ may also mean—‘the occupation of the Vaiśya being not available to him.’ In this case, the receiving of improper gifts would be inferior to the occupation of the Vaiśya.

‘Resolved to stick to his own path.’—This indicates that this sums up all the occupations permitted during times of distress.

‘Distressed through want of livelihood, and Pining’—i.e., fallen in ruin.—(101)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 233);—in Aparārka (p. 935);—in Smṛtitattva I (p. 353);—in Smṛtitattva II (p. 362);—and in Prāyaścittaviveka (p. 408).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 10.101-108)

Gautama (7.4).—‘In times of distress, it is permissible to offer sacrifices for men of all castes, to teach them and to accept gifts from them.’

Āpastamba (?.18.5-7, 14-15),—‘In times of distress, if he is unable to keep himself, he may eat food obtained from anybody, after having touched it with gold, or with fire....... In times of distress, even the food of a Śūdra, who lives under one’s protection for the sake of spiritual merit, may be eaten. He may eat it, touching it once with gold or with fire.’

Vaśiṣṭha (27.9).—‘Through sacrificing for wicked people, through teaching them, through intermarrying with them, or through accepting their gifts, learned Brāhmaṇas do not contract guilt; for a learned Brāhmaṇa resembles fire and the sun.’

Yājñavalkya (3.41).—‘Agriculture, arts, service, learning, money-lending, cart, hill, attendance, land covered with wood and water, king, alms-begging,—these are the means of livelihood in times of distress.’