Shloka 24
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
ब्राह्मणाय च राज्ञे च सर्वा: परिददे प्रजा: । तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम्,ब्राह्मण और राजाको उन्होंने सारी प्रजाके पोषणका भार सौंपा था। अब मैं वैश्यकी उस वृत्तिका वर्णन करूँगा, जिससे उसका जीवन-निर्वाह हो
brāhmaṇāya ca rājñe ca sarvāḥ paridadē prajāḥ | tasya vṛttiṃ pravakṣyāmi yac ca tasyopajīvanam ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—ब्राह्मण आणि राजाला सर्व प्रजेच्या पालन‑रक्षणाचा भार सोपविला गेला. आता मी वैश्याची वृत्ती सांगतो—ज्यायोगे त्याचा योग्य उपजीविका‑निर्वाह होतो.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames social responsibility in dharma: the welfare of the people is placed under the guidance of the Brahmin (norms, teaching, counsel) and the king (governance, protection), and it introduces the next topic—defining the Vaishya’s rightful livelihood (vṛtti) as part of an ordered ethical society.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues his systematic exposition of duties by social role. After indicating that the care of the populace is entrusted to Brahmins and kings, he transitions to describe the Vaishya’s occupation and means of subsistence.