Shloka 2
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । द्युमत्सेनस्य संवाद राज्ञा सत्यवता सह
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | dyumatsenasya saṁvādaṁ rājñā satyavatā saha ||
Bhishma sprach: „Auch hier wird ein altes Vorbild angeführt—ein überlieferter Bericht aus früherer Zeit: der Dialog Dyumatsenas mit König Satyavat. Indem man diesen Austausch in Erinnerung ruft, wird die Sache durch ein vom Lauf der Zeit bewährtes Beispiel von Dharma und rechtem Handeln erhellt.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction through an authoritative precedent: ethical questions are clarified by recalling ancient exemplars (itihāsa), where dharma is tested and articulated in dialogue.
Bhishma introduces an old story as an illustrative example, specifically pointing to a conversation between Dyumatsena and King Satyavat, which will be used to guide Yudhishthira’s understanding of the topic under discussion.