Chapter 58

Vishnu Smriti 58

Now, for a householder, wealth is of three kinds. // Vi_58.1 //

Śukla (white/pure), śabala (speckled/mixed), and asita (black/impure). // Vi_58.2 //

By the post-mortem rites which he performs with white wealth, he attains the state of a deity. // Vi_58.3 //

With speckled wealth, the state of a man. // Vi_58.4 //

With black wealth, the state of an animal. // Vi_58.5 //

Wealth acquired by one's own occupation is white for all. // Vi_58.6 //

Wealth acquired by the occupation of the next lower varṇa is speckled. // Vi_58.7 //

And wealth acquired by the occupation of a varṇa two degrees lower is black. // Vi_58.8 //

What has come down by succession, a gift of affection, and what is received with a wife, / Without distinction, for all, this wealth is declared to be white. || Vi_58.9 ||

What is obtained by a bribe or a fee, by the sale of what is not to be sold, / And what is received for a favor done, is declared to be speckled. || Vi_58.10 ||

What is obtained by partiality, gambling, or theft, by counterfeit, or by violence, / And what is acquired by fraud, that is declared to be black. || Vi_58.11 ||

With whatever kind of wealth a man performs any act, / That same kind of fruit he obtains, both after death and in this world. || Vi_58.12 ||