तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ | ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि || २४ ||
tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi
tasmāt—therefore; śāstram—scripture; pramāṇam—authority; te—your; kārya—what ought to be done; akārya—what ought not to be done; vyavasthitau—in determining; jñātvā—knowing; śāstra-vidhāna—scriptural regulation; uktam—stated; karma—action; kartum—to do; iha—here; arhasi—you deserve.
“Therefore, let the scripture be your authority in determining what is to be done and what is not to be done. Knowing what is prescribed by scripture, you should act accordingly.”
Chapter 16 concludes by reaffirming the authority of scripture (shastra) as the guide for ethical action. For Ramanuja, the Vedic scriptures and the teachings of realized acharyas constitute the pramana—the valid source of knowledge—for distinguishing right from wrong action. This is not blind obedience but informed trust in the wisdom preserved across generations of realized teachers.
The principle here is that good judgment in ethics, like good judgment in medicine or engineering, requires both training and reliable sources. Taking time to study the Gita, the Upanishads, and the teachings of wise teachers—and then applying these principles to your daily choices—is the practical meaning of 'letting scripture be your authority.' The study is not an end in itself but training for wise action.