Shloka 21
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
भूतसर्गमिमं कृत्वा सर्वलोकपितामह: । शाश्वतं वेदपठितं धर्म प्रयुयुजे तत:,सर्वलोकपितामह ब्रह्माने इन समस्त प्राणियोंकी सृष्टि करके उनके ऊपर वेदोक्त सनातनधर्मके पालनका भार रखा
bhūtasargam imaṁ kṛtvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ | śāśvataṁ vedapaṭhitaṁ dharmaṁ prayuyuje tataḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: Having brought forth this creation of living beings, the Grandsire of all worlds (Brahmā) thereafter enjoined upon them the eternal dharma as taught in the Vedas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not a merely human convention; it is presented as an eternal, Veda-grounded order instituted at creation itself. Living beings are meant to uphold this sustaining law as a fundamental responsibility.
Bhishma explains to his listener that after Brahmā created living beings, he established the Veda-taught, eternal dharma as the guiding rule for their conduct—framing moral duty as part of the structure of the world.