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 dit : « Tel un marchand, tantôt il se livre au négoce ; tantôt il accomplit les devoirs d’un brāhmaṇa et d’un kṣatriya ; et tantôt encore il prend aussi les occupations des vaiśya et des śūdra. Il fait des dons de multiples sortes aux démunis : aux malheureux, aux aveugles, aux pauvres et à d’autres. »
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.