Verse 16.24
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ | ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ||२४||
Transliteration (IAST)
tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau | jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi ||24||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Therefore, let scripture be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Having known what is declared by scriptural injunctions, you should act in this world accordingly.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that this concluding verse establishes śāstra-pramāṇya - the authority of scripture as the guide for human conduct. Since neither perception nor inference can determine dharma, scripture alone is the valid means of knowledge for ethical and spiritual matters. Ramanuja notes that this verse connects directly to Chapter 17, where Arjuna asks about those who worship with faith but without following scripture. Madhva emphasizes that 'kartum arhasi' is an exhortation to act - knowledge of scripture must translate into practice.