Shloka 11
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
अध्यापयेदधीयीत याजयेत यजेत वा । न वृथा प्रतिगृह्लीयान्न च दद्यात् कथंचन
adhyāpayed adhīyīta yājayet yajeta vā | na vṛthā pratigṛhṇīyān na ca dadyāt kathaṃcana ||
Vyāsa disse: “Um brāhmaṇa deve sustentar-se pelos seis deveres sancionados—estudar e ensinar, sacrificar e oficiar para outros, dar e receber dádivas. Contudo, jamais deve aceitar presentes de modo impróprio ou sem motivo, e nunca deve dar caridade de forma desperdiçadora ou indiscriminada.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the legitimate means of livelihood and conduct for a brāhmaṇa—study/teaching and sacrifice/officiating, along with giving/receiving gifts—while placing strict ethical limits: do not accept improper gifts, and do not give charity wastefully or indiscriminately.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma instruction, Vyāsa lays down normative rules of right conduct, focusing here on regulated economic and ritual behavior—how one should teach, perform rites, and handle gifts so that livelihood remains aligned with dharma.