Shloka 5
देवराजेन च पुरा कथितैषा कथा शुभा । समस्तेभ्य: प्रशस्तेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो वसुधाधिप,पृथ्वीनाथ! तत्पश्चात् पूर्वकालमें देवराज इन्द्रने सभी श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंके समक्ष यह शुभ कथा कही
devarājena ca purā kathitaiṣā kathā śubhā | samastebhyaḥ praśastebhyo viprebhyo vasudhādhipa pṛthvīnātha |
ভীষ্ম বললেন—হে বসুধাধিপ, হে পৃথিবীনাথ! প্রাচীনকালে দেবরাজ ইন্দ্র সকল প্রশস্ত ও শ্রদ্ধেয় ব্রাহ্মণের সম্মুখে এই শুভ কাহিনি বলেছিলেন।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes the authority and auspiciousness of the teaching by tracing it to Indra and to an assembly of eminent Brāhmaṇas, implying that dharma-instruction should be received through respected lineage and learned counsel.
Bhīṣma addresses the king and introduces a forthcoming discourse as an ancient, auspicious story once spoken by Indra before a gathering of venerable Brāhmaṇas, setting the stage for the lesson that follows.