Shloka 29
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्येडहमितिहासं पुरातनम् । उदीच्यां दिशि यद् वृत्तं म्लेच्छेषु मनुजाधिप,भीष्मजीने कहा--नरेश्वर! मैं प्रसन्नतापूर्वक तुम्हें एक पुराना इतिहास बता रहा हूँ। यह घटना उत्तरदिशामें म्लेच्छोंके देशमें घटित हुई थी
bhīṣma uvāca hanta te vartayiṣye ’ham itihāsaṃ purātanam | udīcyāṃ diśi yad vṛttaṃ mleccheṣu manujādhipa ||
قال بهيشما: «هلمّ، سأقصّ عليك خبراً قديماً من أخبار الأوّلين. يا سيّد الناس، إنه عن حادثة وقعت في الناحية الشمالية، بين المليتشا.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-oriented instruction through an ancient exemplum: Bhishma signals that ethical guidance for a king may be conveyed via old narratives, even when the setting lies beyond orthodox cultural regions (among the Mlecchas).
Bhishma begins a new illustrative tale, telling the king that he will narrate an ancient incident that took place in the northern lands among the Mlecchas, preparing the listener for a didactic episode.