Shloka 44
भीष्मविक्रमदर्शनं तथा क्रौञ्चारुणव्यूहविधानम् | Bhīṣma’s Ascendancy and the Organization of the Krauñcāruṇa Formation
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् | परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम्
kṛṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṃ vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam | paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ||
阿周那说：“耕作、牧牛与贸易，是吠舍依其天性而生的本分。以侍奉他人、随侍供事为形态的服务之业，同样也是首陀罗依其天性而生的本分。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states that different forms of work are considered appropriate when they arise from one’s innate disposition (svabhāva). It identifies agriculture, cattle-tending, and trade as the Vaiśya’s natural duties, and service/attendance as the Śūdra’s natural duty, framing social responsibility in terms of svadharma (one’s own duty).
In the Bhīṣma Parva’s instruction-setting, Arjuna speaks in a didactic mode, articulating how duties are traditionally classified by varṇa and grounded in svabhāva. The statement supports the broader ethical discussion on right action and responsibility amid the impending war.