Shloka 4
वैश्यास्तु भोज्या विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां तथैव च | नित्याग्नयो विविक्ताश्च चातुर्मास्यरताश्न ये,वैश्योंमें भी जो नित्य अग्निहोत्र करनेवाले, पवित्रतासे रहनेवाले और चातुर्मास्य-व्रतका पालन करनेवाले हैं, उन्हींका अन्न ब्राह्मण और क्षत्रियोंके लिये ग्राह्म है
vaiśyās tu bhojyā viprāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathaiva ca | nityāgnayo viviktāś ca cāturmāsyaratāśn ye ||
Bhīṣma said: “Among the Vaiśyas, only those are fit to provide food for Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas who maintain the sacred fires daily, live in disciplined purity and seclusion, and faithfully observe the Cāturmāsya rites. Food is to be accepted only from such well-conducted householders.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches discernment in accepting food: Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas should accept sustenance only from Vaiśya householders whose life is marked by daily maintenance of sacred fires, disciplined purity, and faithful observance of seasonal rites. The ethical point is that food carries the moral and ritual quality of the giver’s conduct.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues laying down norms of right conduct. Here he specifies which Vaiśyas are considered proper donors of food to higher varṇas, linking social interaction (receiving food) to ritual practice and personal discipline.