Shloka 456
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
ब्रह्मा ददावसिं तीक्षणमधर्मप्रतिवारणम् । इसके बाद ब्रह्माजीने अधर्मका निवारण करनेमें समर्थ वह तीखी तलवार वृषभचिह्नित ध्वजावाले नीलकण्ठ भगवान् रुद्रको दे दी
brahmā dadāv asiṁ tīkṣṇam adharmaprativāraṇam |
भीष्म उवाच— ब्रह्मा तीक्ष्णमसिं ददौ, अधर्मप्रतिवारणक्षमम्। ततः स एव तीक्ष्णः शस्त्रः, अधर्मनिग्रहसमर्थः, वृषभचिह्नध्वजाय नीलकण्ठाय भगवान् रुद्राय ब्रह्मणा प्रदत्तः—यथा वैषम्यं निरुध्येत, धर्मश्च परिरक्ष्येत।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate power and even weaponry are framed as instruments for the restraint of adharma: force is ethically justified here only insofar as it protects dharma and restores moral order, not for personal gain or cruelty.
In Bhishma’s account, Brahmā bestows a sharp sword intended to counter unrighteousness, and then entrusts it to Rudra (Śiva), identified by the blue throat and bull-emblem banner, indicating divine sanction for the protection of cosmic and social order.