राज्ञो वृत्ति: प्रजागोप्तुरविप्राद्वा करादिभि: ॥ १४ ॥
ṣaḍ-anyasyāpratigrahaḥ
rājño vṛttiḥ prajā-goptur
aviprād vā karādibhiḥ
trīṇi karmāṇi jīvikā
yajanādhyāpane caiva
viśuddhāc ca pratigrahaḥ
SYNONYMS
viprasya—of the brāhmaṇa; adhyayana-ādīni—reading the Vedas, etc; ṣaṭ—six (to study the Vedas, to teach the Vedas, to worship the Deity, to teach others how to worship, to accept charity and to give charity); anyasya—of those other than the brāhmaṇas (the kṣatriyas); apratigrahaḥ—without accepting charity from others (the kṣatriyas may execute the five other occupational duties prescribed for the brāhmaṇas); rājñaḥ—of the kṣatriya; vṛttiḥ—the means of livelihood; prajā-goptuḥ—who maintain the subjects; aviprāt—from those who are not brāhmaṇas; vā—or; kara-ādibhiḥ—by levying revenue taxes, customs duties, fines for punishment, etc.
TRANSLATION
For a brāhmaṇa there are six occupational duties. A kṣatriya should not accept charity, but he may perform the other five of these duties. A king or kṣatriya is not allowed to levy taxes on brāhmaṇas, but he may make his livelihood by levying minimal taxes, customs duties, and penalty fines upon his other subjects.
PURPORT
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains the position of brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas as follows. Brāhmaṇas have six occupational duties, of which three are compulsory—namely, studying the Vedas, worshiping the Deity and giving charity. By teaching, by inducing others to worship the Deity, and by accepting gifts, the brāhmaṇas receive the necessities of life. This is also confirmed in the Manu-saṁhitā:
trīṇi karmāṇi jīvikā
yajanādhyāpane caiva
viśuddhāc ca pratigrahaḥ