Shloka 21
Tapovana-praveśaḥ — The King’s Entry into the Sacred Grove and Vision of the Āśrama
कारयन्त: कृषिं गोभिस्तथा वैश्या: क्षिताविह । युज्जते धुरि नो गाश्न कृशाज्रांशज्षाप्पजीवयन्,वैश्यगण बैलोंद्वारा इस पृथ्वीपर दूसरोंसे खेती कराते हुए भी स्वयं उनके कंधेपर जुआ नहीं रखते थे--उन्हें बोझ ढोनेमें नहीं लगाते थे और दुर्बल अंगोंवाले निकम्मे पशुओंको भी दाना-घास देकर उनके जीवनकी रक्षा करते थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kārayantaḥ kṛṣiṃ gobhis tathā vaiśyāḥ kṣitāv iha | yujjate dhuri no gāś ca kṛśāṅgān ajasāpi jīvayan |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Kahit isinasagawa ang pagsasaka sa lupang ito sa tulong ng mga baka, hindi iginagapos ng mga Vaiśya ang mga ito sa pamatok para sa mabibigat na pasan; hindi nila pinipilit na magbuhat ng karga. Maging ang mga hayop na mahihina ang mga paa’t kamay—hindi angkop sa mabigat na gawain—ay pinakakain ng damo at butil, at iniingatan ang kanilang buhay. Ipinahihiwatig ng talatang ito ang isang asal ng lipunan: kabuhayang may pagpipigil at habag sa mga nilalang na umaasa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethic of livelihood with compassion: even when using animals for agriculture, one should avoid overburdening them and should sustain the weak and unfit rather than exploiting them. It frames humane treatment of dependent beings as part of dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes the conduct of the Vaiśya community: they engage in farming with cattle, yet they refrain from yoking them to heavy burdens and ensure even frail animals are fed and kept alive. The narration functions as a moral-social description within the Adi Parva context.