Shloka 12
Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)
कृषिगोरक्ष्यमप्येके भैक्ष्यमन्ये5प्यनुछ्िता: । चौराश्नान्येडनृताश्चान्ये तथान्ये नटनर्तका:
bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣigorakṣyam apy eke bhaikṣyam anye 'py anuṣṭhitāḥ | caurāś cānye 'nṛtāś cānye tathānye naṭanartakāḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—کچھ برہمن کھیتی اور گائے بانی سے بھی گزر بسر کرتے ہیں، کچھ بھیک پر جیتے ہیں۔ کچھ چوری کرتے ہیں، کچھ جھوٹ بولتے ہیں، اور کچھ اداکار و رقاص بن کر روزی کماتے ہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights how people abandon prescribed, dharmic livelihoods and take up mixed or unethical means (alms, theft, lying, performance work), illustrating social and moral disorder and prompting reflection on right conduct and right livelihood.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he lists the various ways people sustain themselves—some acceptable, some blameworthy—to show the diversity and degeneration of conduct in society and to frame a discussion on proper duties and ethical living.