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 ||
Pagkaraan, nagbalik ang aking ulirat nang aking pagnilayan ayon sa mga śāstra. Napagpasyahan ko: “O panginoon, ang ‘pamamaraang ibinibigay sa kamay’ na ito ay hindi naman itinatadhana sa mga Veda.”
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’.