Shloka 19
मांसपरिवर्जन-प्रशंसा (Praise of Abstention from Meat) / Ethics of Ahiṃsā in Diet and Rite
षड्भागपरिशुद्धं च कृषेर्भागमुपार्जितम् । वैश्यो ददद् द्विजातिभ्य: पापेभ्य: परिमुच्यते
ṣaḍbhāga-pariśuddhaṃ ca kṛṣer bhāgam upārjitam | vaiśyo dadad dvijātibhyaḥ pāpebhyaḥ parimucyate ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Ang isang Vaiśya na nabubuhay sa pagsasaka, unang ibinibigay ang bahagi ng hari—ang ikaanim na bahagi—at mula sa natitira ay nagkakaloob ng dalisay na butil bilang kawanggawa sa mga ‘dalawang ulit na isinilang’; siya’y napapalaya sa mga kasalanan. Itinatanghal ng taludtod ang makatarungang buwis at malinis na pag-aalay bilang kabuhayang ayon sa dharma na nagpapadalisay sa buhay ng maybahay.”
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma in economic life: first discharge the ruler’s legitimate due (ṣaḍbhāga), then give charity from what remains, ensuring the gift is ‘pure’—i.e., honestly earned and not withheld from rightful obligations. Such orderly, lawful giving is said to cleanse moral fault.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a rule about Vaiśya conduct: an agriculturist who pays the king’s share and then donates pure grain to the twice-born is described as becoming free from sins, highlighting the link between social duty, taxation, and meritorious giving.