Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
प्रतिज्ञां चाधिरोहस्व मनसा कर्मणा गिरा । पालयिष्याम्यहं भौम॑ ब्रह्म इत्येव चासकृत्,“साथ ही यह प्रतिज्ञा करो कि “मैं मन, वाणी और क्रियाद्वारा भूतलवर्ती ब्रह्म (वेद) का निरन्तर पालन करूँगा
pratijñāṁ cādhirohasva manasā karmaṇā girā | pālayiṣyāmy ahaṁ bhauma brahma ityeva cāsakṛt ||
અને આ પ્રતિજ્ઞા પણ દૃઢ કરો—“હું મન, વાણી અને કર્મ દ્વારા ભૂતલ પર સ્થિત બ્રહ્મ—અર્થાત્ વેદ—નું સતત પાલન કરીશ.”
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma must be upheld integrally—through thought, speech, and action. The verse stresses a disciplined, continuous commitment to preserving sacred knowledge (brahma as the Veda) as a lived ethical practice, not merely a verbal claim.
In Bhishma’s instruction within the Shanti Parva, he urges the listener to adopt a firm vow and repeatedly affirm it: to uphold and preserve the Vedic order/teaching on earth by aligning inner intention (mind), outward expression (speech), and conduct (action).