Shloka 816
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
वैशालाक्षमिति प्रोक्त तदिन्द्र: प्रत्यपद्यत । विशालाक्ष भगवान् शिवने प्रजावर्गकी आयुका हास होता जानकर ब्रह्माजीके रचे हुए इस महान् अर्थसे भरे हुए शास्त्रको संक्षिप्त किया था; इसलिये इसका नाम “वैशालाक्ष' हो गया। फिर इसे इन्द्रने ग्रहण किया
vaiśālākṣam iti proktaṃ tad indraḥ pratyapadyata | viśālākṣaḥ bhagavān śivaḥ prajā-varga-kī āyuḥ-kāḥ hāsaḥ hotā jānakaḥ brahmājī-kṛtaṃ mahān artha-bharaṃ śāstraṃ saṃkṣiptavān; tasmād asya nāma “vaiśālākṣa” abhavat | punaḥ etad indreṇa gṛhītam |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ipinahayag na tatawagin itong ‘Vaiśālākṣa’, at tinanggap ito ni Indra. Ang mapalad na Panginoong Śiva—na kilala bilang Viśālākṣa (‘malalawak ang mga mata’)—nang maunawaan niyang humihina ang haba ng buhay ng mga uri ng nilalang, ay pinaikli ang dakila at hitik-sa-kahulugang kasulatang nilikha ni Brahmā. Kaya ito tinawag na ‘Vaiśālākṣa’; at pagkaraan ay tinanggap ito ni Indra.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the legitimacy and authority of dharma-teaching through a divine lineage: Brahmā composes a profound śāstra, Śiva (as Viśālākṣa) condenses it for practical benefit, and Indra receives it—showing how knowledge is preserved, refined, and transmitted for the welfare of beings.
Bhishma explains the origin of a teaching called ‘Vaiśālākṣa’: it is named after Viśālākṣa (Śiva), who abridged Brahmā’s extensive treatise; afterward Indra accepted and received this condensed doctrine.