Shloka 26
अव्यक्त-गुण-पुरुषविवेकः | Avyakta, Guṇas, and Discrimination of Puruṣa
वणिक्ययथं द्विजं क्षत्रं वैश्यशूद्रांस्तथैव च । दानं च विविधाकारं दीनान्धकृपणादिषु
vaṇig yathāṁ dvijaṁ kṣatraṁ vaiśyaśūdrāṁs tathaiva ca | dānaṁ ca vividhākāraṁ dīnāndhakṛpaṇādiṣu ||
Vasiṣṭha said: “Like a merchant, he at times engages in trade; at times he follows the duties of a brāhmaṇa and a kṣatriya; and at other times he takes up the occupations of vaiśyas and śūdras as well. He gives gifts in many forms to the destitute—those in misery, the blind, the poor, and others.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adaptability in livelihood and conduct across social roles, while emphasizing dāna (charitable giving) as a consistent ethical duty—especially toward the vulnerable (the destitute, afflicted, and helpless).
Vasiṣṭha is describing a person’s varied modes of action—sometimes trading, sometimes adopting the duties associated with different varṇas—and notes that he practices diverse forms of charity directed to those in need.