āstikyaḿ dāna-niṣṭhā ca
adambho brahma-sevanam
atuṣṭir arthopacayair
vaiśya-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ
astikyam -- faith in Vedic civilization; dana-nishtha -- dedicated to charity; ca -- also; adambhah -- being without hypocrisy; brahma-sevanam -- service to the brahmanas; atushtih -- remaining dissatisfied; artha -- of money; upacayaih -- by the accumulation; vaisya -- of the vaisyas; prakritayah -- the natural qualities; tu -- indeed; imah -- these.
Faith in Vedic civilization, dedication to charity, freedom from hypocrisy, service to the brahmanas and perpetually desiring to accumulate more money are the natural qualities of the vaisyas.
Atushtir arthopacayaih indicates that a vaisya is never satisfied with any amount of wealth and always wants to accumulate more. On the other hand, he is dana-nishtha, or dedicated to charitable work; brahmasevi, always engaged in assisting the brahmanas; and adambha, free from hypocrisy. This is due to astikyam, or complete faith in the Vedic way of life, and confidence that one will be rewarded or punished in the next life for one's present activities. The fervent desire of the vaisyas to accumulate wealth is not the same as ordinary material greed, because it is purified and tempered by the superior qualities mentioned in this verse.
