वैश्यस्तु वार्तावृत्तिः स्यान् नित्यं ब्रह्मकुलानुगः ।
शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा वृत्तिश्च स्वामिनो भवेत् ॥ १५ ॥
vaisyas tu varta-vrttih syan
vaisyah-the mercantile community; tu-indeed; varta-vrttih-engaged in agriculture, cow protection, and trade; syat-must be; nityam-always; brahma-kula-anugah-following the directions of the brahmanas; sudrasya-of the fourth-grade persons, the workers; dvija-susrusa-the service of the three higher sections (the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas); vrttih-means of livelihood; ca-and; svaminah-of the master; bhavet-he must be.
The mercantile community should always follow the directions of the brahmanas and engage in such occupational duties as agriculture, trade, and protection of cows. For the sudras the only duty is to accept a master from a higher social order and engage in his service.