Vaishya Dharma (वैश्यधर्मः)
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वैश्यः ॥ Vaishya
पशूनां रक्षणं दानं इज्याध्ययनं एव च । वणिक्पथं कुसीदं च वैश्यस्य कृषिं एव च । । १.९० । ।[1] 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).[2] According to the Bhagavata Purana, the Vaishya is to maintain himself by agriculture (cattle-breeding) and trade, and should follow the Brahmanas.[3]
वैश्यस्तु वार्तावृत्तिश्च नित्यं ब्रह्मकुलानुगः । (Bh. Pu. Skanda 7, Adhyaya 11, Verse 15)[4] vaiśyastu vārtāvr̥ttiśca nityaṁ brahmakulānugaḥ ।
And devotion to deities, teachers and Lord Vishnu, maintenance (and achievement) of the three objectives in life (viz. dharma, artha and kama), faith in Shastras, constant effort (in making money) and skill in transactions, form the characteristics of the Vaishyas.[3]
देवगुर्वच्युते भक्तिस्त्रिवर्गपरिपोषणम् । आस्तिक्यमुद्यमो नित्यं नैपुण्यं वैश्यलक्षणम् ॥ २३॥[4] devagurvacyute bhaktistrivargaparipoṣaṇam । āstikyamudyamo nityaṁ naipuṇyaṁ vaiśyalakṣaṇam ॥ 23॥
Mahabharata
वैश्यस्यापि हि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतम्। दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः शौचेन धनसंचयः।।12.59.23 (60.21)
पितृवत्पालयेद्वैश्यो युक्तः सर्वान्पशूनिह। 24
रक्षया स हि तेषां वै महत्सुखमवाप्नुयात्। प्रजापतिर्हि वैश्याय सृष्ट्वा परिददौ पशून्।। 25
Modes of living
पण्णामेकां पिबेद्धेनुं शताच्च मिथुनं हरेत्। लये च सप्तमो भागस्तथा शृङ्गे कला खुरे।। 27
सस्यानां सर्वबीजानामेषा सांवत्सरी भृतिः।। 28[5]
The Agni Purana also mentions Agriculture, protecting the cows and trade as (the duties) of a vaishya apart from munificence, engaging in study and perform vedic rites as laid down.[6]
दानमध्ययनञ्चैव यजनञ्च यथाविधिः ॥१५१.७
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यस्य परिकीर्तितं ।१५१.९[7]
References
- ↑ Manusmriti, Adhyaya 1.
- ↑ Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti (Vol.3), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.964-965.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, Adhyaya 11.
- ↑ Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Adhyaya 59
- ↑ The Agni Purana (Part 2), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.
- ↑ Agni Purana, Adhyaya 151