Shloka 25
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
वैश्यो5धीत्य कृषिगोरक्षपण्यै- वित्त चिन्चन् पालयन्नप्रमत्त:
vaiśyo ’dhītya kṛṣigorakṣapaṇyaiḥ vittam cincan pālayann apramattaḥ
वायु ने कहा—वैश्य अपने कर्तव्य का ज्ञान प्राप्त करके कृषि, गोरक्षा और व्यापार द्वारा धन अर्जित करे तथा उसे सावधानी से सँभाले—कभी प्रमाद न करे।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches Vaiśya-dharma: wealth should be earned through socially sustaining means—agriculture, cattle-protection, and trade—and then safeguarded and administered responsibly with vigilance (apramāda), not through negligence or harmful pursuits.
Vāyudeva is instructing on proper conduct and livelihood according to varṇa-based duties, specifying the approved economic activities for a Vaiśya and emphasizing careful stewardship of wealth.