Shloka 21
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
वैश्य: स्वकर्मनिरत: प्रदानाल्लभते महत् । शूद्र: स्वकर्मनिरत: स्वर्ग शुश्रूषयारच्छति
bhīṣma uvāca |
vaiśyaḥ svakarmanirataḥ pradānāl labhate mahat |
śūdraḥ svakarmanirataḥ svargaṃ śuśrūṣayā ṛcchati ||
毗湿摩说道：“吠舍若安住于自身所当行之业，以布施之德便得大位；首陀罗亦然，勤于本分之事，以忠诚服侍而至天界。此教诲强调：灵性与社会的提升，不在于舍弃自身所处之位，而在于以真诚履行应尽之责——尤以施与与服务为要。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that excellence and spiritual reward arise from sincere performance of one’s own duty (svakarma): the Vaishya is elevated through generosity (dāna), and the Shudra attains heaven through devoted service (śuśrūṣā).
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he outlines how different social roles can achieve merit through their characteristic virtues—giving for the Vaishya and service for the Shudra—when grounded in faithful adherence to duty.