Shloka 9
Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
करोति कर्म यद् वैश्यस्तद् गत्वा हुपजीवति । कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यमकुत्सा वैश्यकर्मणि
karoti karma yad vaiśyas tad gatvā hy upajīvati | kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyam akutsā vaiśyakarmaṇi ||
毗湿摩说道：“吠舍所作之业，众人皆依彼业而生。农耕、护养牛群与贸易，皆为吠舍之正业；故不当轻贱，亦不当以其职业为耻。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms the dignity and necessity of the Vaiśya’s work—agriculture, cattle-tending, and trade—stating that society is sustained by these occupations and that one should not despise one’s rightful duty.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma, describing the proper duties of the social orders; here he explains the Vaiśya’s role and its ethical importance for the livelihood of all.