Verse 10.77

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

त्रयो धर्मा निवर्तन्ते ब्राह्मणात् क्षत्रियं प्रति ।
अध्यापनं याजनं च तृतीयश्च प्रतिग्रहः ॥ ७७ ॥

trayo dharmā nivartante brāhmaṇāt kṣatriyaṃ prati |
adhyāpanaṃ yājanaṃ ca tṛtīyaśca pratigrahaḥ || 77 ||

From the Brāhmaṇa coming to the Kṣatriya, three of these functions cease;—viz., Teaching, Sacrificing for others, and third, the Receiving of gifts.—(77)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

These three functions, which are the means of livelihood, do not belong to the Kṣatriya; but those that are conducive to spiritual ends—i.e., studying and the rest,—do not cease.

Inasmuch as the Veda is the subject-matter in consideration, it is the teaching of the Veda that is forbidden for the Kṣatriya, and not that of the science of archery and other arts and sciences.—(77)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Āhnika, 37a).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 10.77-80)

[See texts under 9.326 et seq.]

Gautama (10.1, 7, 15, 49).—‘The occupations common to all the twice-born are—studying, offering sacrifices, and giving gifts,—to protect all beings is the additional function of the king (Kṣatriya), and to learn the management of chariots and the use of the bow;—the additional occupations of the Vaiśya are agriculture, trade, cattle-tending, and money-lending.’

Baudhāyana (1.18.3, 4).—‘In the Kṣatriya, the Brāhmaṇa placed strength, together with the duties and privileges of studying, sacrificing, giving gifts, using weapons and protecting the life and property of all beings,—for the growth of good government.—In the Vaiśyas, the Brāhmaṇa placed the power to work, with the duties of studying, sacrificing, giving gifts, cultivating the soil, trading, and cattle-tending,—for the growth of productive labour.’

Āpastamba (2.10.6, 7).—‘The lawful occupations of the Kṣatriya are the same as those of the Brāhmaṇa; with the exception of teaching, sacrificing for others and receiving gifts; and with the addition of governing and fighting. The lawful occupations of the Vaiśya are the same as those of the Kṣatriya, with the exception of governing and fighting, and with the addition of agriculture, cattle tending and trade.’

Vaśiṣṭha (2.15-19).—‘The lawful occupations of the Kṣatriya are three—studying, sacrificing for himself and bestowing gifts;—and his peculiar duty is to protect the people with his weapons; he may earn his livelihood by that means.—The lawful occupations of the Vaiśya are the same besides agriculture, trading, cattle-tending and money-lending.’

Viṣṇu (2.6, 7, 9, 12, 13).—‘For the Kṣatriya, constant practice in arms;—for the Vaiśya, the tending of cattle;—for all the twice-born, to sacrifice and to study;—the mode of livelihood for the Kṣatriya is to protect the world (and receive due reward);—and for the Vaiśya, tillage, keeping cows, trade, money-lending and growing of seeds.’

Yājñavalkya (1.118, 119).—‘Sacrificing, studying and giving gifts are common to the Kṣatriya and the Vaiśya (and the Brāhmaṇa);—the principal function of the Kṣatriya is the protecting of the people; money-lending, agriculture, and trade and cattle-tending are the principal functions of the Vaiśya.’

Śukranīti (4.3.33-34).—‘The additional special functions of the Kṣatriya are the protection of the good, suppression of the wicked and realising of revenues. The additional functions of the Vaiśya are agriculture, pasture and trade.’

Kāmandaka (1.20).—‘The King (Kṣatriya) should live by his weapons and by protecting the people. The means of subsistence for the Vaiśya are cattle-rearing, agriculture and trade.’

Arthaśāstra (p. 29).—‘The duties of the Kṣatriya are studying, sacrificing, making gilts, living by arms, and protecting of living beings; of the Vaiśya—studying, sacrificing, giving gifts, agriculture, cattle-tending and trade.’