A man of the third tribe, his business being trade and agricul- ture; viśatyāśu paśubhyaśca kṛṣyādāvaruciḥ śuciḥ. vedādhyayanasaṃpannaḥ sa vaiśya iti saṃ- jñitaḥ Padma Purāṇa. (He is suppos- ed to have sprung from the thighs of Puruṣa; cf. ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ Rv. 10. 90). Comp. karman n. vṛttiḥ f. the business or occupation of a Vai- śya; trade, agriculture &c.