Shloka 11
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
अध्यापयेदधीयीत याजयेत यजेत वा । न वृथा प्रतिगृह्लीयान्न च दद्यात् कथंचन
adhyāpayed adhīyīta yājayet yajeta vā | na vṛthā pratigṛhṇīyān na ca dadyāt kathaṃcana ||
毗耶娑说：“婆罗门当以六种正当之业自持其生——自学与授徒，行祭与为人主祭，施与与受赠。然而，他决不可不当受礼、无故受礼；亦不可妄施滥施，以致徒然。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the legitimate means of livelihood and conduct for a brāhmaṇa—study/teaching and sacrifice/officiating, along with giving/receiving gifts—while placing strict ethical limits: do not accept improper gifts, and do not give charity wastefully or indiscriminately.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma instruction, Vyāsa lays down normative rules of right conduct, focusing here on regulated economic and ritual behavior—how one should teach, perform rites, and handle gifts so that livelihood remains aligned with dharma.