Kurukṣetra-anudarśanam — Rāma-hradāḥ and the Question of Kṣatra Continuity (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
एतन्मे छिन्धि वार्ष्णेय संशयं ताक्ष्यकेतन । आगमो हि पर: कृष्ण त्वत्तो नो वासवानुज
etan me chindhi vārṣṇeya saṁśayaṁ tākṣyaketana | āgamo hi paraḥ kṛṣṇa tvatto no vāsavānuj ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Vārṣṇeya, yang berpanji Tākṣya (Garuḍa), putuskanlah keraguanku ini. Wahai Kṛṣṇa, adik Vāsava, bagi kami tiada otoritas (āgama) yang lebih tinggi darimu.”
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa as the highest living authority for resolving moral and doctrinal uncertainty: when dharma becomes subtle and confusing, one should seek clarification from a trustworthy, enlightened guide whose understanding embodies the essence of āgama (authoritative tradition).
In the Śānti Parva’s post-war instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa with reverential epithets and asks him to dispel a pressing doubt, affirming that for the Pāṇḍavas no scriptural authority surpasses Kṛṣṇa’s counsel.