Shloka 12
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
यथोक्तमेतद् वचन प्रागेव मनुना पुरा । यन्मयोक्तं मनुष्येन्द्र ब्रह्मणो वचन महत्
bhīṣma uvāca | yathoktam etad vacanaṃ prāg eva manunā purā | yan mayoktaṃ manuṣyendra brahmaṇo vacanaṃ mahat ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang pahayag na ito ay sinabi na noon pa man ni Manu. O pinakamainam sa mga tao, ang aking ipinahayag ay dakilang pananalita ni Brahmā. Yamang naipahayag na ito ni Manu nang mas maaga, nakikilala rin ito bilang ‘naunang pananalita’ (prāg-vacana). At dahil itinatakda nito ang mga tuntunin ng praktikal na asal at paghatol sa usaping-ligal (vyavahāra), dito ito tinatawag na ‘vyavahāra’.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma grounds his instruction in recognized authority: the same rule was taught earlier by Manu and ultimately reflects Brahmā’s great pronouncement. Because it guides practical dealings and adjudication, it is classified under vyavahāra—dharma as applied to real-world conduct and legal order.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhishma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira). Here he clarifies that his present teaching is not novel: it is an ancient doctrine already stated by Manu and traceable to Brahmā, thereby reinforcing its legitimacy for governance and social/legal practice.