Shloka 76
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
चरिष्यमाण इन्द्रोतं शौनकं संशितव्रतम् | राजन! यहाँ मैं जो इतिहास बता रहा हूँ
cariṣyamāṇa indrotaṃ śaunakaṃ saṃśitavratam | rājan! iha ahaṃ yo itihāsaṃ bravīmi sa dharmasya vṛddhi-karaḥ | rājā janamejayaḥ sva-pāpa-karmabhiḥ dagdhaḥ vane caran dṛḍha-vrata-parāyaṇaṃ śaunaka-vaṃśyaṃ indrotaṃ muniṃ samupāgamat ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O König, die alte Begebenheit, die ich nun berichten will, ist eine, die das Dharma stärkt. König Janamejaya, von den Folgen seiner eigenen sündhaften Taten wie von Feuer versengt und im Wald umherirrend, gelangte zu dem Weisen Indrota aus der Linie des Shaunaka, einem Mann, der in strengen Askese-Gelübden standhaft war.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames moral storytelling (itihāsa) as a means to strengthen dharma, and it highlights that wrongdoing leads to inner burning and suffering, prompting a seeker to approach a disciplined sage for guidance and possible atonement.
Bhishma introduces a dharma-enhancing story: King Janamejaya, afflicted by the results of sinful actions and roaming in the forest, goes to the vow-observant sage Indrota of the Shaunaka lineage.