Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.6.32
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyLivelihood Through Agriculture, Protection, and Cooperation
“The means of livelihood of all persons, namely production of grains and their distribution to the prajās, was generated from the thighs of the Lord’s gigantic form. The mercantile men who take charge of such execution are called vaiśyas.”
What the purport teaches
- The production and distribution of grains arose from the thighs of the Lord’s gigantic form. Those who carry out this work are called vaiśyas.
- The duties of vaiśyas include cow protection, agriculture, and business. Banking and transportation support the exchange of agricultural produce.
- The social orders have distinct responsibilities in teaching, protection, production, and service. The purport describes their cooperation, including support for spiritual teachers, as essential to a peaceful society.
Try this today
At one meal today, identify a grain or vegetable and reflect on the cultivation and distribution that brought it to you.
Ask yourself
How does my daily food depend on the work and cooperation of others?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.