Shloka 12
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
गोभ्यो वृत्ति समास्थाय पीता: कृष्युपजीविन: । स्वधर्मान् नानुतिष्ठन्ति ते द्विजा वैश्यतां गता:
gobhyo vṛttiṃ samāsthāya pītāḥ kṛṣyupajīvinaḥ | svadharmān nānutiṣṭhanti te dvijā vaiśyatāṃ gatāḥ ||
Bharadvāja berkata: Para dwija yang menempuh penghidupan dari ternak sapi dan dari pertanian—hingga warna mereka menjadi pucat—dan yang tidak lagi menjalankan dharma Brahmana yang ditetapkan bagi mereka, para Brahmana itu sungguh mencapai keadaan Vaiśya.
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that varṇa-identity is tied to the performance of one’s prescribed dharma and customary livelihood: when a Brahmin abandons Brahminical duties and lives by cattle-rearing and agriculture, he is described as having entered the condition of a Vaiśya.
Bharadvāja is explaining a principle of social-ethical classification within the Śānti Parva’s discussions: he cites how certain twice-born, by adopting pastoral/agricultural livelihood and neglecting their own dharma, came to be regarded as Vaiśyas.