Shloka 4
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
भीष्म उवाच सुरा लवणमित्येव तिलान् केसरिण: पशून् | वृषभान् मधुमांसं च कृतान्नं च युधिष्ठिर
bhīṣma uvāca surā lavaṇam ity eva tilān kesariṇaḥ paśūn | vṛṣabhān madhumāṁsaṁ ca kṛtānnaṁ ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh Yudhiṣṭhira, el licor y la sal, las semillas de sésamo, los animales de color leonado, los toros, la miel y la carne, y la comida ya cocida: de todo ello debe un brāhmaṇa renunciar al comercio en cualquier circunstancia.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a Brahmin should avoid trading in certain items—especially intoxicants, meat-related goods, and particular food/animal commodities—because such commerce is considered contrary to Brahminical dharma and purity-based obligations.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising King Yudhishthira on rules of right conduct, here focusing specifically on occupations and kinds of trade that are forbidden for Brahmins.