Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
एवं वयं च धर्मज्ञ सर्वे चास्मत्पितामहा:
evaṁ vayaṁ ca dharmajña sarve cāsmatpitāmahāḥ
एवं वयं च धर्मज्ञ सर्वे चास्मत्पितामहाः।
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma appeals to the authority of dharma as preserved by tradition: what he is stating is not merely personal opinion but is aligned with the understanding upheld by the elders and forefathers, reinforcing continuity and reliability in ethical instruction.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhīṣma continues advising his listener on dharma and supports his point by invoking collective agreement—“we too” and “all our forefathers”—to strengthen the normative force of the teaching.