Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
ततो मे पुनरेवासीत् संज्ञा संचिन्त्य शास्त्रत: । नायं वेदेषु विहितो विधिहस्त इति प्रभो
tato me punar evāsīt saṁjñā saṁcintya śāstrataḥ | nāyaṁ vedeṣu vihito vidhihasta iti prabho ||
ನಂತರ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಾನುಸಾರ ಚಿಂತಿಸಿದಾಗ ನನ್ನ ಚೇತನ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರಳಿತು. ನಾನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಸಿದೆ— ‘ಓ ಪ್ರಭು, ಈ “ಕೈಮೇಲೆ ನೀಡುವ ವಿಧಿ” ವೇದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಧಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ.’
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma emphasizes that ethical or ritual claims should be tested against recognized śāstra and Vedic prescription; if a practice is not Veda-sanctioned, it should not be treated as binding dharma merely by assertion.
Bhīṣma reports a moment of regained clarity: after careful scriptural reflection, he rejects a purported ‘rule’ as lacking Vedic authorization, addressing his listener respectfully as ‘prabho’.