Shloka 21
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
राजा दूसरा कर्म करे या न करे, प्रजाकी रक्षा करने-मात्रसे वह कृतकृत्य हो जाता है। उसमें इन्द्र देवता-सम्बन्धी बलकी प्रधानता होनेसे राजा 'ऐन्द्र' कहलाता है ।।
vaiśyasyāpi hi yo dharmas taṃ te vakṣyāmi śāśvatam | dānam adhyayanaṃ yajñaḥ śaucena dhana-saṃcayaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：君王或行他事，或不行他事，但只要守护百姓，便已功德圆满。由于王者之中以因陀罗般的威力为尊，故称其为“因陀罗之属（Aindra）”。现在我将告诉你吠舍（Vaishya）永恒的本分：布施、研习圣智、奉行祭祀，以及以清净与正当手段积聚财富——这些便是吠舍应行之业。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma defines the enduring duties of the Vaishya: to give in charity, to pursue study, to perform yajña (sacrificial/ritual duty), and to accumulate wealth through śauca—purity, honesty, and clean means—so that prosperity supports social and religious order.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma continues his systematic teaching to Yudhishthira by outlining varna-based responsibilities; here he turns specifically to the Vaishya’s role in sustaining society through learning, ritual support, generosity, and ethically acquired wealth.