Shloka 2
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । वासवस्य च संवादं शुकस्य च महात्मन:
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | vāsavasya ca saṃvādaṃ śukasya ca mahātmanaḥ |
Bhīṣma sprach: „Yudhiṣṭhira, auch hierzu wird ein uraltes Beispiel angeführt: die alte Erzählung vom Gespräch zwischen Vāsava (Indra) und dem großherzigen Śuka, dem Papagei.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction through an authoritative precedent: ethical guidance is strengthened by citing an ancient itihāsa, especially a dialogue involving a deity (Indra) and a noble being (Śuka), implying that dharma is clarified through tested exemplars.
Bhishma announces that, to illustrate the point under discussion, he will recount an old story—specifically the conversation between Indra (Vāsava) and the great-souled parrot Śuka—setting up a didactic episode to follow.