Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
अथैतद् वचन प्राहुर्धर्मशास्त्रविदो जना: । निशम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ बुद्ध्या परमयुक्तया,भरतश्रेष्ठ! धर्मशास्त्रके ज्ञाता मनुष्य अपनी परम योगयुक्त बुद्धिसे विचार करके यह उपर्युक्त बात कहते हैं
athaitad vacanaṃ prāhur dharmaśāstravido janāḥ | niśamya bharataśreṣṭha buddhyā paramayuktayā ||
Bhishma disse: “Tendo ouvido isto, ó melhor dos Bharatas, os que são versados nos tratados do dharma enunciam esta afirmação depois de a ponderarem com um intelecto supremamente disciplinado e bem jungido.”
भीष्म उवाच
Ethical conclusions should be grounded in śāstra-informed reasoning: those who know Dharmaśāstra speak after attentive listening and careful reflection with a disciplined intellect.
Bhishma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira, invoking the authority of Dharmaśāstra experts and presenting their considered judgment on the matter just discussed.