Shloka 44
एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline
भविष्यति प्रमाणं वै एतन्मदनुशासनम् । 'ब्राह्मणो! जैसे मेरे प्रसादसे उत्पन्न ब्रह्मा प्रमाणभूत हैं एवं जैसे क्रोधसे उत्पन्न रुद्र
bhaviṣyati pramāṇaṃ vai etan mad-anuśāsanam | brāhmaṇa! yathā mama prasādasa utpannaḥ brahmā pramāṇabhūtaḥ, yathā ca krodhasa utpannaḥ rudraḥ; yathā ca yūyaṃ sarve prajāpati-sūrya-candrama-vāyu-bhūmi-jala-agni-sarva-nakṣatrāṇi tathā anyāny api bhūtanāmadhārīṇi padārthāḥ brahmavādinaś ca ṛṣayaḥ sva-svādhi-kārānusāreṇa pravartamānāḥ pramāṇabhūtā manyadhve, tathā yuṣmābhiḥ kṛtam idaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ śāstram api prāmāṇikaṃ manyiṣyate—eṣā mama ājñā || tasmāt pravakṣyate dharmān manuḥ svāyambhuvaḥ svayam; śukrācāryo bṛhaspatiś ca yadā prādurbhaviṣyataḥ tadā tau api yuṣmad-buddhi-niṣpannaṃ śāstram idaṃ pravakṣyataḥ ||
Bhishma said: “This instruction of mine shall stand as an authoritative standard. O Brahmin, just as Brahmā—born of my favor—is accepted as a source of authority, and just as Rudra—born of wrath—is accepted as authoritative; and just as you all—Prajāpatis, the Sun, the Moon, Wind, Earth, Water, Fire, all the constellations, other beings known by their distinct names, and the seers devoted to Brahman—each acting within your own sphere of competence, are regarded as valid authorities; in the same way, this excellent treatise composed by you will also be accepted as authoritative. This is my command. Therefore Svāyambhuva Manu himself will teach dharma in accordance with this very work; and when Śukrācārya and Bṛhaspati appear, they too will expound this śāstra that has arisen from your intelligence.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma establishes that a dharma-śāstra gains binding authority when it is sanctioned within the cosmic hierarchy of recognized pramāṇas: deities, progenitors, and Brahman-knowing seers each function as authorities in their domains, and likewise the composed treatise will be accepted as a standard for dharma.
In Bhishma’s discourse on dharma, he addresses a Brahmin and proclaims that his injunction will make the newly composed śāstra authoritative; he further foretells that future lawgivers and teachers—Svāyambhuva Manu, Śukra, and Bṛhaspati—will teach dharma in accordance with that very text.