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According
to the canonical texts, the Brahmin must perform vaisvadeva
everyday in front of his house-the offering of bali to the
Pancama is a part of this rite. The goal of Vedic works is the
happiness of all mankind, indeed the happiness of all the worlds
("Lokah samastah sukino bhavanthu"). The sound of the
Vedas creates universal well-being, so too Vedic sacrifices.
As a ruler, the Ksatriya wages wars and does
policing work for the security of all citizens. The Vaisya too
serves society - to think that he takes home all the profit he
makes is unfair. The lord speaks of the dharma of Vaisyas in the Gita. "Krsi-gauraksya-vanijyam Vaisya-karma
svabhavajam." The third varna has three duties- raising the
corps, cow protection and trading - and it carries them out for
the welfare of all people. The Vaisya ploughs the field and grows
crops for the benefit of the entire community. Similarly, the
milk yielded by his cow is meant for general consumption and for
sacrifices. A Vaisya must also take care to see that the calves
have their feed of milk. As a trader he procures commodities from
other places to be sold locally.
However rich a man may be, he cannot sustain himself
with money alone. He has to depend on traders for essential
goods. Trading is the dharma of Vaisyas and it is an offence on
their part not to practise it. Similarly, Brahmins would be
committing a sin if they gave up Vedic rituals and earned money
by doing other types of work. It is wrong to think that the
trader carries on his trade for his good alone. Just imagine what
would happen if there were a hartal and all shops were closed for
a week. Surely people would suffer when essential goods are not
readily available. Vaisyas must conduct their business in the
belief that their vocation is one that is ordained by the Lord
and that is for the good for the entire community.
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"Hindu Dharma" is a book
which contains English translation of certain invaluable and
engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji (at
various times during the years 1884 to 1994).
For a general background, please see here
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