Shloka 16
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
विज्वैदेवैश्व साध्यैश्न ब्राह्मणैश्व महर्षिभि: । आपत्सु मरणाद् भीतैर्विधि: प्रतिनिधीकृत:
viśvaidevaiś ca sādhyaiś ca brāhmaṇaiś ca maharṣibhiḥ | āpatsu maraṇād bhītair vidhiḥ pratinidhīkṛtaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ヴィシュヴェデーヴァ（Viśvedevas）やサーディヤ（Sādhyas）でさえ、ブラーフマナや大リシたちとともに、災厄の時に死の恐れに捉えられると、代替の原理を定めた。すなわち、定められた規則の一つ一つに対し、代表となる代行の方法を置き、厳格な遵守が不可能となるときにもダルマが保たれるようにしたのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In emergencies (āpatsu), dharma allows regulated substitution (pratinidhi) for strict rules (vidhi), so that the spirit and continuity of dharma are maintained when literal performance is not feasible.
Bhishma is explaining principles of āpaddharma in the Śānti Parva, citing even divine and sage authorities (Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Brahmins, Maharṣis) as having sanctioned representative substitutes for prescribed acts under life-threatening distress.