वणिज्या पशुरक्षा च कृष्यादानरति: शुचि: । वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्न: स वैश्य इति संज्ञित:
vaṇijyā paśurakṣā ca kṛṣyādānaratiḥ śuciḥ | vedādhyayanasampannaḥ sa vaiśya iti saṃjñitaḥ ||
Disse Bharadvāja: “Aquele que se dedica ao comércio, à proteção do gado, à agricultura e ao dar dádivas; que é puro na conduta e realizado no estudo védico—tal pessoa é designada como Vaiśya.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
The verse defines the ethical and occupational markers of a Vaiśya: engaging in commerce, safeguarding livestock, practicing agriculture, being inclined to charitable giving, maintaining purity of conduct, and being grounded in Vedic study.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Bharadvāja is explaining characteristics (lakṣaṇas) by which a person is recognized as belonging to the Vaiśya varṇa, emphasizing both livelihood and moral-religious discipline.