vaisya -- of the mercantile class; vrittya -- by the occupation; tu -- indeed; rajanyah -- a king; jivet -- may maintain himself; mrigayaya -- by hunting; apadi -- in an emergency or disastrous situation; caret -- may act; va -- or; vipra-rupena -- in the form of a brahmana; na -- never; sva -- of the dog; vrittya -- by the profession; kathancana -- in any circumstance.

A king or other member of the royal order who cannot maintain himself by his normal occupation may act as a vaisya, may live by hunting or may act as a brahmana by teaching others Vedic knowledge. But he may not under any circumstances adopt the profession of a sudra.