Vaishya Dharma (वैश्यधर्मः)

वैश्यः ॥ Vaishya

पशूनां रक्षणं दानं इज्याध्ययनं एव च । वणिक्पथं कुसीदं च वैश्यस्य कृषिं एव च । । १.९० । ।

paśūnāṁ rakṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ ijyādhyayanaṁ eva ca । vaṇikpathaṁ kusīdaṁ ca vaiśyasya kr̥ṣiṁ eva ca । । 1.90 । ।

Meaning: For the Vaishya, tending of cattle, giving of gifts, sacrificing and studying; as also trade, money-lending and cultivating of land (1.90).

According to the Bhagavata Purana, the Vaishya is to maintain himself by agriculture (cattle-breeding) and trade, and should follow the Brahmanas. (AITM, Vol.9, P.964)

वैश्यस्तु वार्तावृत्तिश्च नित्यं ब्रह्मकुलानुगः । vaiśyastu vārtāvr̥ttiśca nityaṁ brahmakulānugaḥ । (Bh. Pu. Skanda 7, Adhyaya 11, Verse 15).