Shloka 24
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
तस्मान्न वाच्यं होकेन बहुज्ञेनापि संशये । प्रजापतिमपाहाय स्वयम्भुवमृते प्रभुम्,अतः कोई संदेह उपस्थित होनेपर स्वयम्भू भगवान् प्रजापतिको छोड़कर अन्य किसी बहुज्ञ पुरुषको भी अकेले कोई निर्णय नहीं देना चाहिये
tasmān na vācyam ekena bahujñenāpi saṁśaye | prajāpatiṁ apāhāya svayambhuvam ṛte prabhum ||
Therefore, when a doubt arises, no decision should be pronounced by a single person—even if he is very learned. Except for the Lord Svayambhū, the self-born Prajāpati, none should be treated as the sole and final authority in matters of uncertainty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In situations of doubt, one should not rely on the solitary verdict of a single individual, even if highly learned; ultimate certainty belongs only to the supreme creator-lord (Svayambhū Prajāpati), so human judgment should be cautious and consultative.
Vaiśampāyana states a normative rule about decision-making: when uncertainty arises, no lone scholar should issue a final determination, emphasizing the limits of human knowledge and the need for higher or broader authority.