SB 11.17.48
From Vanisource
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
TEXT 48
vaiśya-vṛttyā tu rājanyo
jīven mṛgayayāpadi
cared vā vipra-rūpeṇa
na śva-vṛttyā kathañcana
SYNONYMS
vaiśya—of the mercantile class; vṛttyā—by the occupation; tu—indeed; rājanyaḥ—a king; jīvet—may maintain himself; mṛgayayā—by hunting; āpadi—in an emergency or disastrous situation; caret—may act; vā—or; vipra-rūpeṇa—in the form of a brāhmaṇa; na—never; śva—of the dog; vṛttyā—by the profession; kathañcana—in any circumstance.
TRANSLATION
A king or other member of the royal order who cannot maintain himself by his normal occupation may act as a vaiśya, may live by hunting or may act as a brāhmaṇa by teaching others Vedic knowledge. But he may not under any circumstances adopt the profession of a śūdra.
