Shloka 17
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
ततो मे पुनरेवासीत् संज्ञा संचिन्त्य शास्त्रत: । नायं वेदेषु विहितो विधिहस्त इति प्रभो
tato me punar evāsīt saṁjñā saṁcintya śāstrataḥ | nāyaṁ vedeṣu vihito vidhihasta iti prabho ||
Then my awareness returned once more, after I reflected in accordance with the śāstras. I concluded, ‘O lord, this “hand of injunction”—this supposed procedure—is not in fact prescribed in the Vedas.’
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes that ethical or ritual claims should be tested against recognized śāstra and Vedic prescription; if a practice is not Veda-sanctioned, it should not be treated as binding dharma merely by assertion.
Bhīṣma reports a moment of regained clarity: after careful scriptural reflection, he rejects a purported ‘rule’ as lacking Vedic authorization, addressing his listener respectfully as ‘prabho’.