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.

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.