Shloka 12
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । विश्वामित्रस्य संवाद चाण्डालस्य च पक्कणे,इस विषयमें चाण्डालके घरमें चाण्डाल और विश्वामित्रका जो संवाद हुआ था, उस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण लोग दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | viśvāmitrasya saṃvādaṃ cāṇḍālasya ca pakkaṇe ||
Bhīṣma said: “Here too, people cite an ancient precedent: the old tale of the dialogue between Viśvāmitra and a Cāṇḍāla, which took place at Pakkaṇa (in the Cāṇḍāla’s dwelling).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames his instruction by appealing to itihāsa—an authoritative ancient precedent—implying that difficult questions of dharma are clarified through remembered exemplars and reasoned dialogue, even across social boundaries.
Bhīṣma introduces an old story: a conversation between the sage Viśvāmitra and a Cāṇḍāla at a place called Pakkaṇa (described in the tradition as occurring in the Cāṇḍāla’s home), which will serve as an illustrative example for the topic under discussion.