Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 15
Varṇāśrama-Dharma and the Thirty Qualities of a Human Being
वैश्यस्तु वार्तावृत्ति: स्यान्नित्यं ब्रह्मकुलानुग: । शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा वृत्तिश्च स्वामिनो भवेत् ॥ १५ ॥
vaiśyas tu vārtā-vṛttiḥ syān nityaṁ brahma-kulānugaḥ śūdrasya dvija-śuśrūṣā vṛttiś ca svāmino bhavet
Der Vaiśya soll von vārttā leben: Ackerbau, Schutz der Kühe und Handel, und stets den Weisungen der Brāhmaṇas folgen. Für den Śūdra besteht die einzige Pflicht darin, einen Herrn aus einer höheren Ordnung anzunehmen und ihm zu dienen॥15॥
FAQs
This verse says a vaiśya should maintain himself through vārtā—agriculture, cow protection, and trade—and remain aligned with and supportive of the brāhmaṇas.
In his instructions on an ideal society, Prahlāda explains regulated duties for each class so that livelihood and conduct support spiritual culture and devotion rather than mere sense enjoyment.
Choose honest work suited to one’s nature, keep life disciplined and service-oriented, respect spiritual learning and teachers, and use one’s occupation to support dharma and devotion.