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Shloka 43

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

अधिकारेपषु वर्तन्ते यथास्वं ब्रह्मवादिन: । सर्वे प्रमाणं हि यथा तथा तच्छास्त्रमुत्तमम्‌

adhikāreṣu vartante yathāsvaṃ brahmavādinaḥ | sarve pramāṇaṃ hi yathā tathā tacchāstram uttamam ||

ビーシュマは言った。「梵を説く者(brahmavādin)たちは、それぞれの力量の領域において、各自の修学と立場に従って歩む。そして彼らは皆、それぞれの仕方で正当な権威であるがゆえに、それを正しく包摂し得る教典(śāstra)こそ最上である。」

अधिकारेषुin (their respective) domains/authorities
अधिकारेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअधिकार
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
वर्तन्तेact/operate/are engaged
वर्तन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृत्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada
यथाas/according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
स्वम्one's own (proper sphere/measure)
स्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootस्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ब्रह्मवादिनःexpounders of Brahman/learned speakers
ब्रह्मवादिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मवादिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रमाणम्authority/standard/means of valid knowledge
प्रमाणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रमाण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
यथाas/in whatever way
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
तथाso/accordingly
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
तत्that
तत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
शास्त्रम्treatise/teaching/scripture
शास्त्रम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशास्त्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
उत्तमम्excellent/supreme
उत्तमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
brahmavādinaḥ

Educational Q&A

Different spiritual authorities operate within their own legitimate domains (adhikāra), and their teachings can be valid in their respective contexts; the best śāstra is the one that correctly recognizes and integrates this contextual validity.

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhīṣma explains to his listener that apparent diversity among brahmavādins need not be dismissed as error; rather, each may be authoritative within its proper scope, and wise doctrine accounts for such scope-based differences.