Shloka 13
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
गृहमावसतो हास्य नान्यत् तीर्थ प्रतिग्रहात् । देवर्षिपितृगुर्वर्थ वृद्धातुरबुभुक्षताम्
gṛham āvasato hāsya nānyat tīrthaṃ pratigrahāt | devarṣi-pitṛ-gurv-arthaṃ vṛddhāturabubhukṣatām ||
ବ୍ୟାସ କହିଲେ—ଗୃହସ୍ଥ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରତିଗ୍ରହ (ଦାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ) ବ୍ୟତୀତ ଧନ ଧାରଣର ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ପବିତ୍ର ଉପାୟ ନାହିଁ। ଏହି ଗ୍ରହଣ ଦେବ, ଋଷି, ପିତୃ ଓ ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ସେବା ପାଇଁ, ଏବଂ ବୃଦ୍ଧ, ରୋଗୀ ଓ ଭୁକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ପୋଷଣ ପାଇଁ ହେବା ଉଚିତ୍; ଏହି କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟତୀତ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସାଧନ ସଂଗ୍ରହର ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ପଥ ନାହିଁ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder Brahmin may accept gifts (pratigraha) as a legitimate and ‘pure’ means of support, but the ethical purpose is service: sustaining worship and obligations to gods, sages, ancestors, and teachers, and providing food and care to the elderly, sick, and hungry.
In the Shanti Parva’s dharma instruction, Vyāsa states a rule of conduct about livelihood: for a Brahmin living as a householder, accepting donations is presented as the sanctioned route for maintaining resources, specifically oriented toward religious duties and compassionate support of vulnerable people.