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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 1: ****Maitreyah - ****Bhagavan bhagavaan devah samsaaravijigeeshubhih | **Samaakhyaahi jagannaatho vishnuh aaraadhyate yathaa || O Paraasharar, Jagannaatha, who is Bhagavaan Deva, by those who want to win over this samsaara, how is He worshipped? Please do tell me. Paraasharar told about the Vishnu bhaktaas who escape from Yama vashyatva. He told about the lakshanaas of devotees of Vishnu. Now, he is asking about how they worship Vishnu. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Poorvam bhagavat aajnyaa roopa shruti smruti ukta varna aashrama dharma ****anushthaanam bhakti lakshanam uktam | Idaaneem tat eva chaturvarga ****saadhanam iti uchyate bhagavan iti adhyaaya navakena | **From here onwards, up to the ninth chapter, varna aashrama aachaaraas will be told. Bhakti which is always associated with varna aashrama dharma anushthaana, are told in the Shrutis and Smrutis, these Shrutis and Smrutis which are " *Mama eva *aajnyaa", Bhagavat aajnyaa roopa; the varna aashrama dharmaas have to be done with utmost devotion, which is as told in Shrutis and Smrutis, which is nothing but Bhagavat aajnynaa. With that only, one can attain all the four *purushaarthaas, *dharma, artha, kaama, moksha, is going to be told in nine chapters. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 2: ****Aaraadhitaat cha govindaat aaraadhana paraih naraih | **Yat praapyate phalam shrotum tat cha icchaami mahaamune || When Govinda is worshipped by such devotees, what are the fruits that they get? Please do tell me that also. O Mahaamuni. Sri Paraasharar remembers another story and tells it now. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 3: ****Sri Paraasharah - ****Yat prucchati bhavaan etat sagarena mahaatmanaa | ****Ourvah praaha yathaa prushtah tat me nigaditah shrunu || ***Sri Paraasharar *- Once Sagara went and asked *Mahaatma Ourva *- Please do tell me how Vishnu is worshipped, how Vishnu aaraadhana is done. Ourva Rishi explains how Vishnu is going to be worshipped. Whatever Ourva told, I will tell you, please listen to me. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 4: ****Sagarah pranipatya enam ourvam papraccha bhaargavam | **www.sadagopan.org [[86]] of 219
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Vishnoh aaraadhana upaaya sambandham munisattama || Bhrugu’s son, Ourva Maharshi is Bhaargava, and he goes and pays obeisance to him, and requests him to please teach him this - how to worship Vishnu, how to do Vishnu aaraadhana, he goes and requests in a proper way. He does *deergha *namaskaara, and requests him. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 5: ****Phalam cha aaraadhite vishnou yat pumsaam abhijaayate | **Sa cha aaha prushto yat tena tasmai tat me akhilam shrunu || If Vishnu is worshipped by people, what are the fruits that they get? Whatever Ourva Rishi told Sagara, I am going to tell me, listen to me, says Paraasharar. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 6: ****Ourvah - ****Bhoumam manoratham svargam svargavandyam cha yat padam | ****Praapnoti aaraadhite vishnou nirvaanam api chottamam || ***Ourva *- All the desires one can get in this world, and also in the svarga lokaas, and that which is kept in high position even by those who are in svarga, that position which they bow down to, the Brahma padavi; if Vishnu is worshipped, one can get all that. And also, the atyuttama pada, nirvaana, moksha, also one can get. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 7: ****Yat yat icchati yaavat cha phalam aaraadhite achyute | ****Tat tat aapnoti raajendra bhoori svalpam atha api vaa || **Whatever one desire, any amount one can get by worshipping Vishnu. Whether it is a big benefit or a small one, whatever it is, they get everything. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 8: ****Yat tu prucchasi bhoopaala katham aaraadhyate harih | **Tat aham sakalam tubhyam kathayaami nibodha me || You are asking me how Vishnu is worshipped. I will tell you all those things in detail. Please do listen to me. The importance of Varna Aashrama dharmaas is stressed here again, at the beginning itself. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 9: ****Varna aashrama aachaaravataa purushena parah pumaan | ****Vishnuh aaraadhyate panthaa na anyah tat toshakaarakah || **One who is following all the Varna Aashrama dharmaas, there is nothing else which pleases Vishnu, other than being worshipped by a person who is following all the Varna Aashrama dharmaas. This is the message we get in all the shaastraas. As it is told in *Sri Vishnu *Puraana here, it is also told in other places also. In Bhagavad-Geeta also, it is said *Tasmaat shaastram pramaanam te kaarya akaarya vyavasthitou | **Jnyaatvaa shaastra vidhaana uktam karma kartum iha arhasi || *And Ashaastram aasuram is told. Varna aashrama dharmaas as told in the shaastraas are very important. One who is practicing the *varna aashrama *dharma can only worship Bhagavaan; then only Bhagavaan Vishnu will be most www.sadagopan.org [[87]] of 219
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pleased. Otherwise, He will not be pleased. And the mumukshus see Bhagavaan only everywhere, with this understanding. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Varna aashrama iti | Aachaaravata iti atra aachaaragrahanam yajnyaadeh ****karmano api upalakshanam | **Yajnyaas and other karmaas are also included in this. These are all *Vishnu *Aaraadhana only. Everything told in the Poorva Kaanda of Vedaas is said to be aaraadhana of Bhagavaan. Yajnyaas and other karmaas are also included in this. These are all *Vishnu *Aaraadhana only. Everything told in the Poorva Kaanda of Vedaas is said to be aaraadhana of Bhagavaan. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 10: ****Yajan yajnyaan yajanti enam japati enam japan nrupa | ****Nighnan anyaan hinasti enam sarvabhooto yato harih || **Why is everything Vishnu’s aaraadhana only? Whoever performs yajnya, yajnya is " yaja devapoojaayaam"; whichever god he worships, he will be worshipping Vishnu only, because " Sarvabhooto yato harih". Hari is only everything, means that he is present as antaryaami of everything; everything is His shareera; He is shareeri. Everything is Vishnu aatmaka, Bhagavadaatmaka. Whoever worships any god ultimately worships Bhagavaan only, who is antaryaami. Any japa one does, he will be doing japa of Vishnu only. If one is killing others, he will be injuring Vishnu only. Therefore, one should not cause injury to others. Everything is Vishnu only. If he is worshipping through yajnyaas, he will only be worshipping *Sri Mahaa *Vishnu. Any japa he is doing, ultimately, he will be only doing japa of *Sri Mahaa *Vishnu. If he hurts someone also, he knows that he is hurting Mahaa Vishnu only. Because Bhagavaan is there everywhere, in every being, in every devataa. He is antaryaami of everyone. Because of this idea, a mumukshu is performing all the karmaas. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Nanu varna aashrama dharmo yadi devataa vishayah katham asya bhagavat ****aaraadhanatvam iti atra aaha yajan iti | iti smruteh | **In yajnyaas, we see other deity’s names only like *Soorya, Indra, Varuna, Agni, *Soma, etc. If it is all about devataas, how can it be bhagavat aaraadhana? This is explained in the commentary. Varna aashrama dharma is to do with devataas. How can it be bhagavat aaraadhana? **Sarva bhootah sarva aatma bhootah * ye yajanti pitruun devaan braahmanaan **sa hutaashanaan | Sarva bhoota antaraatmaanam vishnum eva yajanti te | He is inner self of everything. Whoever does poojaa, yajnya to devaas, pitruus, or anybody, they all will be worshipping Paramaatman only, He is antaraatman to all beings. *** Ye api anyadevataa bhaktaah yajante shraddhayaa anvitaah | Te api maam **www.sadagopan.org [[88]] of 219
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**eva kounteya yajanti avidhipoorvakam | iti * gaavo hi dvija mukhyaah cha * **ityaadi cha | Those who are devoted to other deities, like they want to worship only *Agni, *Varuna, Indra, Soma, worshipping them with great shraddhe, they will also be worshipping Me only, indirectly. If it is vidhi poorvaka, they will be worshipping directly the antaryaami Paramaatman only; and will get the ultimate benefit. But, even if they are worshipping other gods, they will be indirectly worshipping Me only. Everything is Bhagavaan is clearly told in many pramaanaas. If they are doing yajnyaas also, that will all become Bhagavaan’s aaraadhane only, as He is antaryaami to everyone, sarva bhoota antaraatmaa. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 11: ****Tasmaat sadaachaaravataa purushena janaardanah | ****Aaraadhyate sva varna ukta dharma anushthaana kaarinaa || **Just because it is told in the Vedaas, every karma one cannot perform. Whatever is in their varna and aashrama, that only one has to perform. For each varna and aashrama, karmaas are told. Because something is vaidika karma, one cannot do, if it does not belong to his varna and aashrama. One who is following the shaastraas, whatever is told for his varna-aashrama, that only he has to perform. Sadaachaara is the most important one. One who is established in sadaachaara, he will be performing the worship of Mahaavishnu, according to following his varna and aashrama dharmaas. Many things are told in the Vedaas, but he has to follow what is told for his varna and his dharma. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 12: ****Braahmanah kshatriyo vaishyah shoodrah cha pruthiveepate | **Sva dharma tatparo vishnum aaraadhayati na anyathaa || Braahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra, being engaged in their sva dharma, that which belongs to their varna and aashrama, that is how they have to worship Vishnu, and not in any other way. Such a person should have all good qualities, they should give up all the bad qualities. This is going to be told in further shlokaas. We will see them next. Here onwards, the qualities which one should cultivate, and which one should give up, are going to be told. Further, the varna aashrama dharmaas are going to be told. We are studying Amsha 3, Chapter 8, where Paraasharar is telling Maitreyar about the Varna Aashrama dharmaas. To start with, in this adhyaaya, he is going to talk about the varna dharmaas. The aashrama dharmaas are going to be told in detail in the next chapter. Sri Paraasharar tells Maitreyar what he heard Ourva rishi telling Sagara. In the very beginning, Ourva rishi gives importance to practice of *varna aashrama *dharma, the duties of one’s station in life. The four classes are told - Braahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra. Their dharmaas, whatever is told for their classes - the Braahmana has to follow the Braahmana dharma, Kshatriya has to follow the *Kshatriya dharma, *www.sadagopan.org [[89]] of 219
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Vaishyaas and Shoodraas also like this. Being fully established in the dharmaas, the practices that are told - according to what is prescribed for their dharmaas, one should be following that only, and only then he has to worship Vishnu. Through all these dharmaas, he worships with the idea that this is all worship of Vishnu only. These are some of the qualities that one has to inculcate, these are very important. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 13: ****Paraapavaadam paishunyam anrutam cha na bhaashate | **Anya udvegakaram vaapi toshyate tena keshavah || Not abusing others, no calumny, no untruthfulness, nothing which creates stress for others, if one follows this, then only Keshava will be pleased. These are all the qualities that one has to do, and the saamaanya dharmaas that one has to practice. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 14: ****Paradaara paradravya parahimsaasu yo ratim | **Na karoti pumaan bhoopa toshyate tena keshavah || He will not be interested in other’s wives, or in other’s possessions, or in hurting others, such a person only pleases Keshava. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 15: ****Na taadayati no hanti praanino na asat eehate | **Yo manushyo manushyendra toshyate tena keshavah || He does not hurt others, he does not kill others, he does not desire or wish bad for others. Whoever such a person is there, he pleases Keshava, and Keshava is pleased by such a person. These are all the qualities which please Bhagavaan. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 16: ****Deva dvija guroonaam yah shushrooshaasu sadaa udyatah | **Toshyate tena govindah purushena nareshvara || One who is always interested in serving, offering worship to devataas, serving Brahmins, and Aachaaryaas, Gurus, and is always established in shushrooshaa of them, being in their service - by such a person only, Govinda is pleased, very easily. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 17: ****Yathaa aatmani cha putre cha sarvabhooteshu yah tathaa | **Hitakaamo harih tena sarvadaa toshyate sukham || He treats everyone equally; just as one treats oneself or ones own son, he should treat others also. Such a person treats all beings as he treats his own son or himself. He should always wish, desire good for them. One will not do bad, or hurt oneself; one will always do good for oneself; in a similar way, a person is also attached to one’s son; he will do all good for his son; in the same way, he should treat every other being also. He should wish and do good for everyone, just as he does for his own son or himself. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 18: ****Yasya raaga aadi doshena na dushtam nrupa maanasam | **Vishuddha chetasaa vishnuh toshyate tena sarvadaa || www.sadagopan.org [[90]] of 219
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One whose mind is not having any defect of raaga or dvesha, desire, hatred and other doshaas; whose mind is not corrupt by these kind of defects, such a person will have a pure, clean mind - such a person when he worships Bhagavaan Vishnu, He will be most pleased; Vishnu will always be pleased by this persons worship. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 19: ****Varna aashrameshu ye dharmaah shaastroktaa nrupasattama | **Teshu tishthan naro vishnum aaraadhayati na anyathaa || In Shaastraas, whatever are told for the various varnaas and aashramaas, one who is practicing all this according to one’s own varna and aashrama, Vishnu will be most pleased. One who is following all this, only, one can worship Vishnu. Not by any other way. Varnaas are Braahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and *Shoodra. *Aashramaas are Brahmacharya, Gaarhastya, Vaanaprastha, Sannyaasa. Whoever is there in whichever varna and aashrama, dharmaas which are told as ordained in the shaastraas, one who is established in following ones own varna and aashrama, such a person can only worship Vishnu, and Vishnu will be most pleased. One should not follow that which is outside the shaastraas, even if he has utmost shraddhe. This question is also answered by Krishna in Bhagavad-Geeta, when Arjuna asks - If a person has great shraddhaa, but does not do what is told in the shaastraas, what happens to him; Krishna says that this is not allowed, this is ashaastram aasuram, He says. Same thing is told here also by Paraasharar, as told by Ourva rishi to Sagara. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Varna aashrameshu iti | Teshu tishthan taan anutishthan | **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 20: ****Sagarah - ****Tat aham shrotum icchaami varna dharmaan asheshatah | ****Tathaa eva aashrama dharmaan cha dvijavarya braveehi taan || ***Sagara *- O Braahmana shrestha, please to tell me; I am also interested in knowing and listening to varna dharmaas and aashrama dharmaas, in detail. Then Ourva rishi starts to tell the various dharmaas of varnaas and aashramaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 21: ****Ourvah - ****Braahmana kshatriya vishaam shoodraanaam cha yathaakramam | **Tvam ekaagramatih bhootvaa shrunu dharmaan mayaa uditaan || O Sagara, please do listen to me, with utmost concentration. I am going to tell you what are all the duties prescribed for the various *varnaas - Braahmana, Kshatriya, *Vaishya, Shoodra, in order. I will tell you all the varna dharmaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 22: ****Daanam dadyaat yajet devaan yajnyaih svaadhyaaya tatparah | **Nitya udakee bhavet viprah kuryaat cha agni parigraham || One has to donate, do daana, he has to do yajnya, he has to worship devataas through yajnyaas, he should be established in svaadhyaaya, in www.sadagopan.org [[91]] of 219
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the study of one’s own shaakhaa of Vedaas, he has to daily do snaana and tarpana. He has to do agni parigraha. These are all the Braahmana’s duties being told. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Daanam iti | Nitya udakee - (nitya udaka) snaana tarpana aadikrut | Agni **parigraham smaartasya upaasanaagneh, shroutaagnitreyasya cha parigraham | Whatever is to be done with water, snaana, tarpana, is called as nitya udakee. He has to agni parigraha, means upaasanaas as told in the Smrutis, and the three agnis told in the Shrutis - Gaarhapatya, Aavahaneeya and Daakshinaagni. He has to do the karmaas told in the respective *agnis *- in the *Upaasanaa *Agni and Shrouta Agni. He has to protect and maintain the Agnis. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 23: ****Vrutti artham yaajayet cha anyaan anyaan adhyaapayet tathaa | **Kuryaat pratigrahaadaanam shuklaarthaan nyaayato dvijah || For Braahmanaas, six things are told - *yajana, yaajana, adhyayana, adhyaapana, *daana and pratigraha. Out of that, shannaam treeni jeevikaah, three of them are for a living. In order to take up some work, he has to perform yaagaas on behalf of others, so that he can earn money through that - this is a shaastrokta way of earning for a Brahmin. He has to perform yaagaas on behalf of others. He has to teach Vedaas and other shaastraas to others. He has to also receive donations given by others. Shuklaartha is nyaaya sampaadita dhana, is white money, that which is earned in the proper way as told in the *shaastraas *- through *yajana, **adhyaapana, pratigraha *- these are the three things by which he receives. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Vrutti artham iti | Pratigrahah - pratigraho gavaadi | Pratigraha means that which he receives, as given by others - cow and other things which are given. Shuklaarthaat nyaayaarjita shukladhanaat | That money which is earned in the right way. Vipraadeh sva vrutti upaattam sarveshaam eva shuklam | For Brahmins, whatever is told as their duty, whatever is earned through *yaajana, *adhyaapana, pratigraha, is all said to be shukla dhana only, pure, good money. Money or cow, or anything else. *** Kramaagatam preetidaayam praaptam cha saha bhaaryayaa | Avisheshena **sarveshaam dhanam shuklam udaahrutam | Iti vishnuh | It is told in Vishnu Puraana itself that whatever comes from the kula, the vamsha, what comes along with his wife when he marries, these are all said to be good money. *** Shruta shourya tapah kanyaa yaajya shishya anvayaagatam | Dhanam **saptavidham shuklam * iti naaradah | Naarada Puraana tells the seven ways by which one can earn the righteous money - through adhyaapana, shourya, tapas, through marriage, by performing yaaga for others, that which comes from shishyaas.
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Nyaayatah - kaala purusha daanaadi nishiddha pratigrahaadi vruttim vinaa | Nyaayatah is told here - there are good times, and there are times in which one should not give daana. During a not good time, if someone is giving daana, it should not even be received by a Brahmin. Daana should be at the right time, and right place. One should not receive daana at a wrong place. Adesha kaale is told in Geetha. What is given at prescribed time and place is good daana, it will be shukla, this will be nyaayaarjita. **Aapadi, shuddhaat raajaadeh graahyam * Raaja antevaasi yaajyebhyah seedan ****icchet dhanam kshudhaa * iti | * Na raajyah pratigruhneeyaat lubdhasyoh **shaastravartinah * iti smruteh cha | If he is not getting through yaajana, if a Brahmin is in trouble, he can receive money from a king who is a dharmishtha, one who is ruling over the kingdom properly in the prescribed way. When he is in trouble, he can take money from the king, student. If a king is not living in the righteous way, one should not receive money from him, is told in the Smruti also. We can see these instances in Upanishads, where a king says to a rishi that “You can receive daana from me. I have done no adharma, I am looking after the country in a proper way etc., so you can receive daana from me”. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 24: ****Sarvabhootahitam kuryaat na ahitam kasyachit dvijah | **Maitree samasta bhooteshu braahmanasya uttamam dhanam || After telling shuklaartha, what is uttama dhana for a Brahmin? It is *sarva bhoota *hita, he should be disposed in a good way with respect to every being. He should not do bad to anyone. He should be friendly with everyone. This is the *uttama *dhana for a Brahmin. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 25: ****Graanvi ratne cha paarakye samabuddhih bhavet dvijah | **Rutou abhigamah patnyaam shasyate cha asya paarthiva || A *Braahmana dharma *- in stone, in gems which belong to others - he should treat gems which belong to others just as he treats stone. He should unite with wife at a proper time as told in the Shrutis, this is also allowed for a Brahmin. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Graanvi iti | Rutaaavibhaagamah - chaturthee prabhrutyaa shodasham iti aadi | ***** Shodasha rutuh nishaah streenaam tasmin yugmaasu samvishet | **Brahmachaaree eva parvaadyaah chatasrah tu vivarjayet | iti cha | From the fourth day, up to the sixteenth day after the rutu snaana, on even days, one can unite with wife, it is told. Leaving the first four days, for the next twelve days, on even days, one can unite with wife; then he will be considered as a Brahmachaari only. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 26: ****Daanaani dadyat icchaato dvijebhyah kshatriyo api hi | **Yajet cha vividhaih yajnyaih adheeyeeta cha paarthiva || Now, the dharmaas of Kshatriya varna are going to be told. A Kshatriya should donate to a Brahmin as much as he desires. This is dharma of a Kshatriya. He www.sadagopan.org [[93]] of 219
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should also perform various yajnyaas as told in the shaastraas. He has also to do adhyayana, this is also told for a Kshatriya. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 27: ****Shastraajeevo maheerakshaa pravaraa tasya jeevikaa | **Tatra api prathamah kalpah pruthivee paripaalanam || For his living, he should protect the country, and he can use weapons for a living. This is said to be good for him. Even in this, preference is given to ruling over the kingdom. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Shastraajeevo iti | Tatra api vrutti dvaye api, pruthivee paalanam prathamah ****kalpah - mukhyatvena pravrutta iti sheshah | **Using weapons and making a living with that, and ruling over a country - ruling over is the first option. This is said to be more important for a Kshatriya. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 28: ****Dharitree paalanena eva krutakrutyaa naraadhipaah | ****Bhavanti nrupateh amshaa yato yajnyaadi karmanaam || **All the kings do the right thing, whatever ought to be done by a Kshatriya, by only ruling over the kingdom. Even if they don’t do yajnyaas, the most prominent thing told is ruling over, because anyway they get a part of the phala of the yajnyaas performed by others also. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Dharitree iti | Amshaah - shashtha tureeya ardha tripaada aakhyaah | It is either one-sixth, or one-fourth, or half, or three-fourths. These are the parts of the fruits of the yajnya performed by others, in various cases. This is explained with pramaanaas by Sri Engal Aalwaan. Tatra raajnyaam desha sthitaih krutasha shashta amshah syaat | Those who are living in his own country, for a king, for the yajnyaas that they perform, all the fruits, benefits coming from the *yajyna *- one-sixth part goes to the king. Aham tvaam rakshaami iti abhaya pradaane paadah | If he says that I am going to protect you, then he will get one-fourth. This is tureeya amsha. Tat rakshaartham annadaane ardham | If he actually donates anna to such person, in order to protect them, he will get half the fruit of any yajnyaas performed by them. Sat krutya annadaane tripaadam | Helping them in other ways, and also doing annadaana, he will get three-fourth of the fruit. *** Dharma shashtha amsha bhaagee syaat prajaa dharmena paalayan * iti **bhaarate | * Yathaa chaturtham dharmasya rakshitaa labhate phalam | He will get one-fourth when he protects dharma. www.sadagopan.org [[94]] of 219
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Paapasya api tathaa moodho bhaagam praapnoti arakshitaa || If he does not protect, he will get one-fourth of the sins committed by them. **Rakshishyaami iti cha uktam te na cha shaknoshi rakshitum || Iti harivamshe **arjunam prati braahmana vachanam || If he says that “I will protect you”, and is not capable of protecting, then also he will get paapa. This is told in Harivamsha by the Braahmana. *** Yasya anna paana pushtaangah kurute dharmasanchayam || Anna pradaatuh **tasyaarddham kartuh cha ardham na samshayah | iti | If he donates anna, and other things, in order to protect dharma, and when he protects the Brahmins giving food, and performs the yajnya, he will get half. *** Annadaatuh trayah paadaah kartaa paadena lipyate * iti cha vachanaantaram **| These are all pramaanaas told to say that he will anyway get the part of the fruit of the yajnyaas performed. That is why, pruthivee paalana is told to be pradhaana, the main duty of a Kshatriya. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 29: ****Dushtaanaam shaasanaat raajaa shishtaanaam paripaalanaat | **Praapnoti abhimataan lokaan varna samshtaam karoti yah || A king has to punish the wicked or those who are engaged in evil deeds. He has to protect those who are established in the right path. Such a king, he can attain whatever fruits he wants. He also establishes the varna dharmaas. A king’s duty is to establish the varna dharmaas in the country. He can attain any fruits by doing all these things. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 30: ****Paashupaalyam cha vaanijyam krushim cha manujeshvara | **Vaishyaaya jeevikaam brahma dadou lokapitaamahah || Now, the Vaishya dharmaas are going to be told. For Vaishyaas in order to make a living, Chaturmukha Brahma has given them these things to do - having cows, trade, business, farming. In order to make a living, they can get into any of these occupations. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 31: ****Tasya api adhyayanam yajnyo daanam dharmah cha shasyate | **Nitya naimittikaadeenaam anushthaanam cha karmanaam || Even for a Vaishya, it is ordained that he has to do *adhyayana, yajnyaas, daana, *dharma. All the nitya, naimittika karmaas have to be done without leaving, even for a Vaishya. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 32: ****Dvi jaati samshritam karma taadarthyam tena poshanam | **Kraya vikrayajaih vaa api dhanaih kaaroodbhavena vaa || The varna dharmaas of Shoodra are told here. Serving the Brahmins, and being www.sadagopan.org [[95]] of 219
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subservient to them. He can also do trading, business. He can take on an occupation like carpentry. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 33: ****Shoodrasya sannatih shoucham sevaa svaaminyamaayayaa | **Amantra yajnyo hi asteyam tat sango viprarakshanam || Being obedient is an important quality for a Shoodra. He has to have shuddhi. Service has to be there. Serving without cheating, very sincerely. He has to also do yajnyaas, without mantraas. He should not steal. He should be in good company. He should protect the Brahmins. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Dvijaati iti | Shoodrasya karma dvi jaati samshritam tat shushrooshaa roopam, ****tat arthyam tat sheshatvam cha, tena tat dvija shushrooshaadi janya dhanena ****aatma poshanam mukhyam | Aapaadi tu vaanijyena kaaroodbhavena takshaadi ****kaaru vrutti utpanna dhanena vaa, * Shoodrasya dvija shushrooshaa tayaa **aajeevan vanik bhavet * ityaadi smruteh || For the benefit of Brahmins, by serving them. Being subservient to them. Shoodraas should serve the Brahmins, and be subservient to them. By doing this, whatever they earn, they have to live based on this; this is the most important thing for them. If he is not able to live based on what he earns by serving Brahmins, a Shoodra can also do trading, business, selling, buying. He can take an occupation like carpentry and earn his living. If he cannot make a living by serving Brahmins, he can become a trader or businessman. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 34: ****Daanam cha dadyaat shoodro api paaka yajnyaih yajeta cha | **Pitryaadikam cha tat sarvam shoodrah kurvati tena vai || A Shoodra also has to do daana. And Paaka yajnya. A Shoodra has to do with these only. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Daanam iti | Paaka yajnyaih alpa yajnyaih * Paako alpe api shimshou api * iti ****vaijayantee | **Paaka yajnya means alpa yajnya. Paaka has meaning of alpa, little, small, as told in Vaijayanti kosha, means minor yajnyaas. **Vaishva devaadyaih namaskaara eka mantraih loukikaanaam paaka yajnya ****shabda iti aapastambah | * Namaskaarena mantrena pancha yajnyaat na ****haapayet * iti yaajnyavalkyah | **Like Vaishvedeva, and the mantra is only “namaha”, namaskaara only. It is told clearly in Aapastamba Sutra like this. That is why this is *paaka yajnya, alpa *yajnya. Yaajnyavalkya has told that even Shoodraas should not give up the *Pancha *Mahaa yajnyaas, they have to do only " namaha". **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 35: ****Bhrutya aadi bharanaarthaaya sarveshaam cha parigrahah | **Rutu kaale abhigamanam sva daareshu maheepate || From all the other varnaas, to support family and others, other dependents, he can receive from others. For Shoodraas also, rutu kaala patni abhigamana is told, as it www.sadagopan.org [[96]] of 219
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is told for others. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Bhrutyaadi iti | Parigrahah - anyaih asveekrutaanaam truna kaashthaa ****aadeenaam sveekaarah, sa tu sarveshaam varnaanaam saadhaaranah | **Whatever is there, not taken by others, one can take, it is told. This is common to all the varnaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 36: ****Dayaa samasta bhooteshu titikshaa naatimaanitaa | ****Satyam shoucham anaayaaso mangalam priyavaaditaa || **These are some aatma gunaas told for everybody. Compassion towards all beings, forbearance / tolerance, not being too proud, truthfulness, *shaastrokta shuddhi *- cleanliness as told in the shaastraas, not straining too much, establishing auspicious work, talking good always, … **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 37: ****Maitree aspruhaa tathaa tadvat akaarpanyam nareshvara | **Anasooyaam cha saamaanyaa varnaanaam kathitaa gunaah || … friendly disposition, not desiring others property, not being a miser, not finding fault in others, these are all the aatma gunaas very important for all the *varnaas - *Braahmanaas, Kshatriyaas, Vaishyaas and Shoodraas. Asooyaa is *gune doshatva buddhih *- finding fault in good quality in others.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 38: ****Aashramaanaam cha serveshaam ete saamaanya lakshanaah | ****Gunaan tathaa aapat dharmaan cha vipraadeenaam imaam shrunu || **These are all the saamaanya lakshanaas of the various aashramaas. Listen to me about the Braahmana, Kshatriya and other *varnaas *- what are the aapat dharmaas. In case they are not able to practice their own varna dharmaas, for various reasons, what they should do. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Aashramaanaam iti | Sarveshaam varnaanaam saadhaaranaah || Though it is told as aashramaanaam here, it means varna dharma only. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 39: ****Kshaatram karma dvijasyoktam vaishyakarma tathaa aapadi | **Raajanyasya cha vaishyoktam shoodra karma na cha etayoh || So far, I have told you the general dharmaas prescribed for all the varnaas. In case they are not able to practice what is prescribed for their varnaas, those I will tell you now. A Brahmin can take up a Kshatriya’s dharmaas. A Kshatriya can take a Vaishya dharma. A Vaishya can take up a Shoodra dharma. These are in case they are not able to do their own varna dharma. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Kshaatram iti | Aapadi tu braahmanasya kshaatram karma uktam | Raajanyasya ****vaishyam karma | Shoodra karma vaishya uktam - vaishyasya uktam | Etayoh - **braahamana raaja anyayoh na cha uktam | www.sadagopan.org [[97]] of 219
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In case of difficulties, a Braahmana can take up a Kshaastra karma. A Kshatriya can take up a Vaishya karma. A Vaishya can take a Shoodra karma. A Braahmana and Kshatriya should never take a Shoodra karma.; this is not prescribed for them even in aapat, it is told. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 40: ****Saamarthye sati tat tyaajyam ubhaabhyaam api paarthiva | **Tat eva aapadi kartavyam na kuryaat karma sankaram || Whatever is told as aapat dharma, is to be done only when saamarthya is not there. Whenever there is saamarthya, this aapat dharma is to be given up. When there is aapat, he has to do the other dharmaas only. When a Brahmin is in trouble and is not able to do Braahmana dharma, he can do Kshatriya dharma. But, again, if he gets back the capability, and is able to do Braahmana dharma, he has to give up the aapat dharma, and take up his *varna *dharma. Otherwise there will be karma sankara, it is told. When saamarthya is not there, then also if he does Braahmana dharma, then also it is karma sankara. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Saamarthya iti | Ubhaabhyaam braahmana raajanyaabhyaam, saamarthye sati ****shaktou satyaam, tat - aapatkarma, tyaajyam | **For Brahmins and Kshatriyaas, when they are capable, then the aapat karma is to be given up; and he has to do his mukhya kalpa only. **Shaktasya anukalpa aashrayah, ashaktasya mukhya kalpa nibandhah cha karma **sankarah, vruttyoh vyatikaro vaa | For a Brahmin, Braahmana dharma is mukhya kalpa, and *Kshatriya *dharma is anukalpa. Only in aapat, he has to take up Kshatriya dharma; this is when he does not have the saamarthya. If he has saamarthya, then he should do mukhya kalpa only. When he has saamarthya, if he does Kshatriya karma; or when he does not have saamarthya, if he tries to do mukha kalpa, then both lead to karma sankara, it is told; it will be the wrong thing to do. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 8, Shloka 41: ****Iti ete kathitaa raajan varna dharmaa mayaa tava | **Dharmaan aashraminaam samyak bruvato me nishaamaya || Ourva Rishi is telling *Sagara Raaja *- O King, I have told you now all the *varna dharmaas. Now, I will tell you aashrama dharmaas. Listen to me. This concludes Chapter 8. || Iti Sri Vishnu Puraane Truteeye Amshe Ashtamo Adhyaayah || || Iti Sri Vishnu Chitteeye Vishnu Puraana Vyaakhyaane Truteeye Amshe Ashtamo Adhyaayah || *** **www.sadagopan.org [[98]] of 219
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|| Atha Navamo Adhyayaah || *Aashrama Dharmaas *Now, Chapter 9. The aashrama dharmaas are going to be told.