Shloka 12
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
यथोक्तमेतद् वचन प्रागेव मनुना पुरा । यन्मयोक्तं मनुष्येन्द्र ब्रह्मणो वचन महत्
bhīṣma uvāca | yathoktam etad vacanaṃ prāg eva manunā purā | yan mayoktaṃ manuṣyendra brahmaṇo vacanaṃ mahat ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Cette parole même fut réellement prononcée jadis par Manu. Ô le meilleur des hommes, ce que j’ai déclaré est la grande parole de Brahmā. Puisque Manu l’avait déjà proclamée auparavant, on la connaît aussi sous le nom de “parole antérieure” (prāg-vacana). Et parce qu’elle expose les principes de la conduite pratique et de l’arbitrage judiciaire (vyavahāra), on la désigne ici comme “vyavahāra”, les règles de la procédure du monde.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma grounds his instruction in recognized authority: the same rule was taught earlier by Manu and ultimately reflects Brahmā’s great pronouncement. Because it guides practical dealings and adjudication, it is classified under vyavahāra—dharma as applied to real-world conduct and legal order.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhishma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira). Here he clarifies that his present teaching is not novel: it is an ancient doctrine already stated by Manu and traceable to Brahmā, thereby reinforcing its legitimacy for governance and social/legal practice.