Shloka 4
Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
वैश्यास्तु भोज्या विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां तथैव च | नित्याग्नयो विविक्ताश्च चातुर्मास्यरताश्न ये
vaiśyās tu bhojyā viprāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathaiva ca | nityāgnayo viviktāś ca cāturmāsyaratāśn ye ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Parmi les vaiśyas, seuls sont dignes de nourrir les brāhmanes et les kṣatriyas ceux qui entretiennent chaque jour les feux sacrés, vivent dans une pureté disciplinée et le retrait, et observent fidèlement les rites de Cāturmāsya. La nourriture ne doit être acceptée que de tels maîtres de maison bien réglés.»
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.