Shloka 21
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
वैश्य: स्वकर्मनिरत: प्रदानाल्लभते महत् । शूद्र: स्वकर्मनिरत: स्वर्ग शुश्रूषयारच्छति
bhīṣma uvāca |
vaiśyaḥ svakarmanirataḥ pradānāl labhate mahat |
śūdraḥ svakarmanirataḥ svargaṃ śuśrūṣayā ṛcchati ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ヴァイシャは自らに定められた務めに堅く立ち、施しの徳によって大いなる位を得る。シュードラもまた、自らの仕事に励み、誠実な奉仕によって天に至る。この教えは、霊的・社会的な向上は自分の立場を捨てることからではなく、真心をもって正しい務めを果たすこと——とりわけ施与と奉仕——から生まれると説く。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that excellence and spiritual reward arise from sincere performance of one’s own duty (svakarma): the Vaishya is elevated through generosity (dāna), and the Shudra attains heaven through devoted service (śuśrūṣā).
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he outlines how different social roles can achieve merit through their characteristic virtues—giving for the Vaishya and service for the Shudra—when grounded in faithful adherence to duty.