Shloka 6
Jāpakānāṃ Gatiḥ — The Destinies of Japa-Practitioners (Śānti Parva 12.190)
वणिज्या पशुरक्षा च कृष्यादानरति: शुचि: । वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्न: स वैश्य इति संज्ञित:
vaṇijyā paśurakṣā ca kṛṣyādānaratiḥ śuciḥ | vedādhyayanasampannaḥ sa vaiśya iti saṃjñitaḥ ||
Bharadvāja dit : « Celui qui se voue au négoce, à la garde du bétail, à l’agriculture et au don; qui est pur dans sa conduite et accompli dans l’étude védique — celui-là est désigné comme Vaiśya. »
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the ethical and occupational markers of a Vaiśya: engaging in commerce, safeguarding livestock, practicing agriculture, being inclined to charitable giving, maintaining purity of conduct, and being grounded in Vedic study.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Bharadvāja is explaining characteristics (lakṣaṇas) by which a person is recognized as belonging to the Vaiśya varṇa, emphasizing both livelihood and moral-religious discipline.