Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं लोकानामिह जीवनम् | ऊर्ध्व॑ चैव त्रयी विद्या सा भूतान् भावयत्युत
bhīṣma uvāca |
kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyaṁ lokānām iha jīvanam |
ūrdhvaṁ caiva trayī vidyā sā bhūtān bhāvayaty uta ||
قال بهيشما: «الزراعة ورعيُ البقر والتجارة هي أسباب معيشة الناس في هذا العالم. غير أن المعرفة الفيدية الثلاثية (الفيدا) تحرس المرء في العوالم العليا أيضًا؛ بل إنها، عبر شعائر القربان، تُغذّي جميع الكائنات وتُقيمها.»
भीष्म उवाच
Worldly society is sustained by practical livelihoods (farming, cattle-rearing, trade), while the Vedic tradition—especially as expressed through yajña—supports welfare beyond this life and is presented as a cosmic principle that nourishes all beings.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma explains the complementary roles of economic activity and sacred knowledge: material occupations maintain life here, while Vedic rites and learning are portrayed as sustaining order and prosperity in both this world and higher realms.