Shloka 6

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

दानमध्ययनं यज्ञो वैश्यस्यापि त्रिधैव सः ।

वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यञ्च कृषिश्चैवास्य जीविका ॥

Transliteration

dānam adhyayanaṃ yajño vaiśyasyāpi tridhaiva saḥ | vāṇijyaṃ pāśupālyañ ca kṛṣiś caivāsya jīvikā ||

Translation

Bagi golongan Vaiśya juga, dharma demikianlah tiga serangkai: pemberian, pengajian, dan korban suci. Mata pencariannya ialah melalui perdagangan, pemeliharaan lembu, dan pertanian.

Word by Word

dānaम्gift; giving

adhyayanaम्study

yajñaḥsacrifice

vaiśyasyaof the Vaishya

apialso

tridhāin three ways

evaindeed; just

saḥthat; he/it

vāṇijyamtrade; commerce

pāśupālyamcattle-rearing; animal husbandry

caand

kṛṣiḥagriculture; farming

caand

evaindeed

asyaof him/of this (i.e., of the Vaishya)

jīvikālivelihood

Speakers

Not specified in the provided excerpt (Ācāra instruction within Markandeya Purāṇa’s discourse context)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

DharmaVarṇadharmaEconomy and livelihoodSocial order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Wealth-generation is not independent of sacred obligation: the Vaiśya’s productive roles (trade, farming, animal care) are to be harmonized with giving, learning, and ritual—so prosperity circulates as dharma rather than mere accumulation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma teaching: a normative section that supports the Purāṇic project of sustaining society, often interwoven with genealogical and cosmic materials elsewhere.

What is the esoteric significance?

The triad of livelihood (trade–cattle–cultivation) mirrors stewardship of resources; prosperity becomes a ritualized trust (yajña) when aligned with dāna and disciplined knowledge.