Means of livelihood of a Brahmana
Vyasa said, “Thus I have explained in details the Dharma of a Brahmana householder. Now all of you should listen to me about their means of livelihood, quite attentively.
The householders are of two types viz.: Sadhaka and Asadhaka. The means of the livelihood of first type of the householders include teaching, performing of the yajnas, and accepting charities. They can also engage themselves in earning of interest, farming, trading activities himself or through agents.
In the absence of cultivation, they can engage themselves into trade and in the absence of the same, they can take to earning of interest, which is permissible only during the time of calamity. The teaching, performing of yajnas and charities, indeed should be the main sources of livelihood.
The cultivation, trade or the earning of interest should be performed by a householder himself. Usury is quite sinful involving pain and strain, therefore one should avoid the same. would be better for the Brahmanas and the learned people to take to pursue the martial activity instead of resorting to the cultivation. A Brahmana can resort to the martial activity even when there is no emergency.
In case a Brahmana is unable to take up the activities of a Ksatriya, then he can engage himself in the trading activities of the Vaisyas. But he should not resort to cultivation himself.
On gaining profit, one should adore the Pitrs, the gods, and the Brahmanas. There is no doubt that when pleased, all of them remove all the blemishes.
In case a twentieth of the produce is offered to the gods as well as the Pitrs, and by giving a one thirtieth of the same to the Brahmanas, no blemish is earned in cultivation.
In comparison to the cultivation, the contribution in trade should be doubled, and in case of the earning of interest, it should be three times and by so doing one does not earn any blemish in the deal. There is no doubt about this.
A Sddhaka householder may also live on gleanings of corns or can also take up an irregular occupation, and for that purpose, there are many means of livelihood like, education, craftsmanship, etc.
For the Asddhaka householder, the Rishis have prescribed two means of livelihood, viz., the gleaning of corns and irregular occupations.
Or otherwise, the livelihood could be earned by means of Amrta or Mrta. In case one gets without begging, it is called Amrta and one that is received by begging is called Mrta (like dead).
There are four types of Asddhaka Brahmanas, viz., a person who carries on his livelihood with the collection of the cereals for three years, or the one who carries on his livelihood with the cereals collected by him for six days upto one year, or a person who can live for the three days with the food collected by him, and lastly the one who has the grain sufficient for the day but not for the morrow. Out of these, the later ones are better than the earlier ones among these Brahmana householders. By means of piety he conquers the worlds.
|
|
|
The first type of Brahmana householders shall be Satkarman1. The second one shall perform three of them, the third, two of them and the fourth, one. He should maintain himself by study of the Vedas.
1. Those who perform all the six duties viz. study of the Vedas, teachings of the Vedas, performance of the yajnas, presiding over the yajnas of others, gifts and acceptance of gifts.
Those who earn their living by gleaning com and other such irregular professions, and are devoted to Agnihotra, then they can perform the ordinary sacrifices ending with these on the new moon and lull moon day.
One should not follow the local practices in earning livelihood. He should not pursue agriculture for livelihood. The means of livelihood which is free from cheating, the arrogance and wickedness, and is extremely auspicious, the same should be adopted by a householder Brahmana.
One should please the Pitrs by begging alms from a wealthy person, or he should beg of pure person with self-control. He should be himself satisfied thereby.
A person who earning his livelihood does not please his own family members and the gods besides the Pitrs, he is reborn as a dog.
All the four, viz.: dharma, artha, kama and moksa are beneficial. One can create obstructions in dharma, but one should not act against dharma in any way.
The riches which are earned for the sake of dharma are the true riches. But the riches which are earned for the selfish purpose, they are of no use. Therefore, a Brahmana, should donate the same to a well eligible person and should perform the yajna.
Capter 26
Giving away of charities
Vyasa said, “Now I shall speak about the excellent dharma of the charities as had been extolled by Brahma to the sages, well-versed in Brahman.
|
|
|
When the riches are given to an appropriate person with faith, only then they are treated as Dana (charitable gift). These charities yields pleasures as well the moksa.
A person who gives away his riches in charities to a distinguished person with devotion, it is considered to be the true wealth. The rest of the riches are guarded by a person for the sake of others.
The charities are of three types, those which are given always, casual and those given with a definite aim. The fourth type of charities are considered to be the spotless one, which indeed is the best in comparison to all other charities.
When a donor, without the desire for a reward in return gives away charities to a Brahmana, who is unable to repay the kindness, it is called the nitya charity.
The charities which are given in the hands of the learned persons, for the sake of self-control, it is called the naimittika charity, and it is practiced by the noble people.
The charity which is performed for getting progeny, victory, fortunes, or the heaven, has been termed as kamyadana by the Rishis who have pondered over topics of piety.
The charity which is given to the Brahmanas, well-versed in the Brahman, for the propitiation of Is'vara, with a righteous mind, such a type of charity is known by the name of vimala or spotless one.
The charities should be given according to one’s own means, on finding an appropriate person, because such an appropriate person can be found with difficulty, who could enable the donor to cross the entire ocean of worldly existence.
What remains after providing food, clothing etc. to the family should be given as charitable gift; because the charities given otherwise are of no consequence.
A person with due devotion should give away in charity riches to the Brahmanas, well-versed in the Vedas, who are of spotless race, humble, performers of tapas, Brahmacarins, and who maintains holy rites.
A person, who donates land to a Brahmana-the performer of homa, he reaches the supreme place, where one does not have to face any type of sufferings.
|
|
|
A person, who, donates the land with the crop of sugarcane, barley, or wheat, to a Brahmana, well-versed in the Vedas, he is relieved of all the sins.
A person who gives away land of the size of a cow hide, to a poor Brahmana, he is relieved of all the sins, because there is no charity better than the donation of the land. But donation of cooked food is also equivalent to the donation of land. And the gift of learning is most excellent.
A person, who appropriately donates Vidya or learning to a religious-minded Brahmana of excellent character, he is adored in Brahmaloka.
A person who gives away in charity with devotion, the food to a Brahmacarin Brahmana, he, getting relieved of all the sins, proceeds on to Brahmaloka.
A man obtains great benefit by giving cooked food to a Brahmana. It must be given to him immediately on his arrival. Thus, one obtains the greatest goal.
On the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha, observing the fast, with a peaceful mind, performing purity, concentrating his mind, a person should adore five or seven Brahmanas offering honey and black sesamum.
Then, he should perform their aratl offering fragrant material to them and should say, “You be pleased, О Dharmaraja”. After speaking these words, he should also speak out his desire to them or he can request the Brahmanas to speak it out. By so doing all the sins during the entire life are washed out.
A person, who placing the gold, honey, ghee, gingelly seeds, on the black antelope skin, and gives them in charity to a Brahmana, he is relieved of all the sins.
During the month of Vaisakha, in case the cooked food and a vase filled with water is given to a Brahmana, for the sake of Dharmaraja, a person is freed from fear.
A person is relieved of the sin of Brahmahatya. by giving away in charity gold, sesamum, and a vase filled with water, and propitiating five or seven Brahmanas.
One should perform fast on twelfth dark day of the month of Magha, wearing the white clothes and should perform homa in fire with sesamum seeds. With great concentration, he should offer gifts to the Brahmanas, well-versed in the Vedas, and by so doing one is relieved of all the sins performed during the life,
|
|
|
On the new moon day, whatever charities are given to a Brahmana, for the sake of lord Shiva saying, “Let lord Shiva with Uma, be pleased”, the sins committed by a person in the seven births are washed out, in a moment.
When a person on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, taking his bath, adores the Pinaka-bearing lord Shiva, and serves food to a Brahmana, he is freed from the cycle of rebirth.
When a person, taking bath on the eighth day in the dark half of the month, washing the feet of the Brahmanas, adores them appropriately and says, “Let lord Shiva be pleased with me”, and then offers his own wealth in donation, he, getting relieved of all the sins, achieves the highest position.
On the eighth and fourteenth days of the dark fortnight besides on the new moon day, the devoted Brahmanas should specially adore lord Shiva.
Similarly, observing fast on the eleventh day, lord Visnu -the Purusottama should be adored through a Brahmana on the twelfth day. By so doing, one achieves the best position.
The twelfth day of the bright fortnight happens to be the day belonging to Visnu. Therefore, on this particular day, lord Visnu should be adored making all the efforts.
Thus, by inviting lord Is'ana in any form and when a Brahmana is given charities in the name of lord Visnu, it becomes exceedingly
A person who intends to serve his own deity, such an intelligent person should adore the Brahmanas for the pleasure of that deity.
All the gods live in the bodies of the Brahmanas always. At times when the Brahmanas are not available then the images of the gods are worshipped.
Therefore, the people desirous of quick reward, should adore the deities in Brahmanas.
A person desirous of fortunes should always adore Indra, and the person desirous of Brahman, or the knowledge of the Vedas should adore Brahma.
Similarly, the one who is desirous of good health, should adore Surya, one who is desirous of the cows, should adore Agni, and for the achieving of success in all the matters, one should adore Vinayaka.
One who is desirous of worldly pleasures, should adore the moon, one desirous of strength, should adore the wind-god and the one who is desirous of his salvation from the world, should adore lord Visnu, making all the efforts.
But those who are desirous of Yoga, liberation, the divine knowledge ofls'vara, they should worship Vimpaksha-Mahesvara, making all the efforts.
Such of the people, who are interested in great Yoga and perfect knowledge, should adore lord Mahadeva. They shall become enjoyers of pleasures, they who worship Bhutesa and Kesava.
By donating water freely, one achieves satisfaction; with the donation of cooked food, one gets everlasting happiness; by donation of sesamum, one gets desired progeny; and by donating lamp, one gets the best of eyesight. A person who donates land, he gets everything; one gets long life by donating gold; by donating a house, one gets the best of abodes; and by donating silver, one achieves the excellent beauty.
By donating the costumes, one lives in the place of moon; by donating the horse, one attains the same world as that of the Asvins; by donating a bull one gets enonnous glory and riches, and by donating a cow, one achieves Bradhna (the world of sun).
By donating a vehicle or a bed, one gets a beautiful wife. When a person offers relief from fear, he achievs enormous fortunes. By donating food grains, one achieves the everlasting comforts, and with the donation of the Vedas, one achieves union with Brahman.
When a person, as per his own means donates food-grains to the Brahmanas well-versed in the Vedas, he enjoys all the comforts in the heaven after his death.
With the donation of the cows, a person is relieved of all the sins. With the donation of fuel, a man becomes like a blazing fire.
A person who donates the fruits, roots, vegetables and several types of eatables to the Brahmanas, he achieves everlasting happiness.
A person, who gives away to the ailing person, the medicines, oil, and the food mixed with ghee, he becomes healthy, happy and enjoys long life.
A person who donates an umbrella and the shoes, he easily crosses the Asipatravana hell full of sharp edges like a shawing blade, and surmounts severe scorching pain.
Whatever is dear in this world, or whatever is excessively cherished by one in the house, should be given to a Brahmana, by one who desires the same for himself to be inexhaustible,
The articles donated during the time of ayana, or when the day and night are equal, at the time of solar or lunar eclipse, or on the first day of the month, bestow everlasting reward.
The charities given to a suitable person at Prayaga or other holy places, auspicious temple, over the bank of a river or a tank, bestow the everlasting reward.
There is no other dharma in the world better than the giving of the charities. Therefore, the twice-boms should donate to the Brahmanas well-versed in the Vedas.
A person desirous of the heaven, long life, the destruction of the sins, fortunes and the one engaged in search of salvation, should perform charities for the Brahmanas.
The one who prevents others from giving charities, to Brahmanas, the fire and the gods, out of delusion, such a sinful fellow, after his death is bom as an animal.
A person, who, after earning enough of riches, does not adore the gods or the Brahmanas, then the king should exile him, snatching away all his riches.
A person who does not distribute the food etc. to the people starving due to the famine, such a Brahmana always earns denouncement.
The giving and taking of donations to such a person is prohibited. Such people should be driven out from the kingdom, after suitably stamping him.
A person who does not give charities to the noble persons, for the following of the dharma, he sl\all be considered to be a great sinner and shall be cooked in the hell.
О Best of the Brahmanas, such of the Brahmanas who are engaged in the study of the Vedas, are learned ones, having controlled their senses, are truthful, righteous, and disciplined, the donations should be given to them alone. One should not feed a fool who has no good conduct even if he is starving for ten days.
A person who leaving aside a Brahmana, well-versed in the Vedas, living closeby, gives charities to some one else, such a sinful fellow, by his misdeeds, reduces to ashes his seven generations.
In case a Brahmana living at a distance excells in learning and virtues, then the charities can be given to the Brahmana living at a distance, in preference to the one living in the vicinity.
Therefore one who receives the charities and one who gives the charities with due respect, both of them go to the heaven and in case things are otherwise, both of them achieve the hell.
Therefore, for the person well-versed in the dharma, he should not extend the charities to an atheist, one who practices falsehood, one who indulges in arguments, wicked and one who is devoid of the knowledge of the Vedas. Even the water should not be given to such a person.
In case an ignorant person, accepts the gifts of pies, gold, cow, horse, land, sesamum, then he is reduced to ashes like the log of wood.
An excellent Brahmana should expect charities only from high class praise-worthy Brahmanas or from all twice bom people, but charities should not be accepted from a Sudra.
Every Brahmana should try for dimunition of his expenditure for livelihood. He should never desire for the expansion of riches, because in greed for riches, he falls off from Brahmanahood.
After studying all the Vedas, and after performing all the 11 yajhas, a person cannot attain that goal, which one attains by means of diminution.
One should not be eager to receive donation. One should earn riches for carrying on his livelihood. A Brahmana, who amasses the wealth much more than his actual need, has to face his ultimate downfall.
A person who perpetually begs, can never achieve the heaven. He actually annoys all other people like a thief.
The charities are collected from the people of all the varnas for the uplifting of the preceptors, elders, servants, besides for worshipping deities and the guests. But one should not make use of the same for his selfish purpose.
Thus a householder, who adores the guests as well as the gods and leads his life absorbed in meditation, he achieves the highest position.
Or otherwise leaving everything on the son, a person well-versed in the tattvas, retiring himself in the forest, becoming unattached, and concentrating his mind in spiritual activities, should wander alone.
О Best of the Dvijas, I have explained to you all about the duties of a householder. Understanding them well, you should strictly follow them and discourse to the other Brahmanas to follow the same,
Thus according to the duties of a householder, the one who adores the primordial lord Tsana, he overcoming the supreme Prakrti, the source of origin of all living beings, does not take another birth.
Chapter 27
Дата добавления: 2019-03-09; просмотров: 239; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!