| 44. Ploughing,
cattlerearing, and trade are the duties of the Vaisyas, born of nature. And
of the nature of service is the duty of the Sudra: born of nature. Devotion
to ones own duty leads to perfection. These duties, respectively enjoined on
the several castes, lead, when rightly performed, to Svarga as their natural
result, as stated in the smritis, such as the following: Men of several castes
and orders, each devoted to his respective duties, reap the fruits of their
actions after death, and then by the residual (karma) attain to births in superior
countries, castes and families, possessed of comparatively superior dharma,
span of life, learning, conduct. wealth, happiness and intelligence. (ApastambaDharmasutra,
222, 3). And in the Purana also are specified the different results and worlds
which the several castes and orders attain. But, from the operation of a new
cause a the following result accrues. |
