जघन्यो नोत्तमां वृत्तिमनापदि भजेन्नर: । ऋते राजन्यमापत्सु सर्वेषामपि सर्वश: ॥ १७ ॥
jaghanyo nottamam vrttim anapadi bhajen narah rte rajanyam apatsu sarvesam api sarvasah
- jaghanyah
- low (person)
- na
- not
- uttamam
- high
- vrttim
- means of livelihood
- anapadi
- when there is no social upheaval
- bhajet
- may accept
- narah
- a man
- rte
- except
- rajanyam
- the profession of the ksatriyas
- apatsu
- at times of emergency
- sarvesam
- of everyone in every status of life
- api
- certainly
- sarvasah
- all professions or occupational duties.
Except in a time of emergency, lower persons should not accept the occupational duties of those who are higher. When there is such an emergency, of course, everyone but the ksatriya may accept the means of livelihood of others.