Shloka 22

Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)

Devanagari script

पितृवत्‌ पालयेद्‌ वैश्यो युक्त: सर्वान्‌ पशूनिह । विकर्म तद्‌ भवेदन्यत्‌ कर्म यत्‌ स समाचरेत्‌,वैश्य सदा उद्योगशील रहकर पुत्रोंकी रक्षा करनेवाले पिताके समान सब प्रकारके पशुओंका पालन करे। इन कर्मोंके सिवा वह और जो कुछ भी करेगा, वह उसके लिये विपरीत कर्म होगा

Translation

Bhishma said: The Vaishya, ever industrious and disciplined, should tend and protect all kinds of livestock like a father safeguarding his children. Any other work he undertakes beyond these duties becomes for him vikarma—action contrary to his proper calling.

Word by Word

पितृवत्like a father

पालयेत्should protect / should tend

वैश्यःthe Vaishya

युक्तःengaged / disciplined / properly employed

सर्वान्all

पशून्animals / cattle

इहhere (in this world / in this context)

विकर्मwrong action / prohibited act

तत्that

भवेत्would be / should be

अन्यत्other (than that)

कर्मaction / work

यत्which / whatever

सःhe

समाचरेत्should practice / should do

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes