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Shloka 26

अव्यक्त-गुण-पुरुषविवेकः | Avyakta, Guṇas, and Discrimination of Puruṣa

वणिक्ययथं द्विजं क्षत्रं वैश्यशूद्रांस्तथैव च । दानं च विविधाकारं दीनान्धकृपणादिषु,वह कभी व्यापार करता, कभी ब्राह्मण और क्षत्रियोंके कर्तव्यका पालन करता तथा कभी वैश्यों और शूद्रोंके कर्मोंका आश्रय लेता। दीन-दुखी और अन्धोंको नाना प्रकारके दान देता है

vaṇig yathāṁ dvijaṁ kṣatraṁ vaiśyaśūdrāṁs tathaiva ca | dānaṁ ca vividhākāraṁ dīnāndhakṛpaṇādiṣu ||

ചിലപ്പോൾ അവൻ വാണിജ്യക്കാരനെപ്പോലെ വ്യാപാരം ചെയ്യുന്നു; ചിലപ്പോൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെയും ക്ഷത്രിയന്റെയും ധർമ്മകർമ്മങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നു; മറ്റുചിലപ്പോൾ വൈശ്യ-ശൂദ്രരുടെ തൊഴിലും ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു. ദീനർ, ദുഃഖിതർ, അന്ധർ, കൃപണർ മുതലായവർക്ക് നാനാവിധ ദാനങ്ങൾ നൽകുന്നു.

वणिक्a merchant
वणिक्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवणिज्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यथाas/like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
द्विजम्a Brahmin (twice-born)
द्विजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
क्षत्रम्a Kshatriya
क्षत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वैश्यVaishyas
वैश्य:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
शूद्रान्Shudras
शूद्रान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तथाthus/so
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दानम्gift/charity
दानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विविधvarious
विविध:
TypeAdjective
Rootविविध
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आकारम्forms/kinds
आकारम्:
TypeNoun
Rootआकार
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
दीनamong the poor
दीन:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootदीन
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
अन्धamong the blind
अन्ध:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्ध
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
कृपणamong the wretched/miserable
कृपण:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकृपण
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
आदिषुetc.; among such (people)
आदिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआदि
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural

वसिष्ठ उवाच

V
Vasiṣṭha

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.