Shloka 4
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । संवादं भरतश्रेष्ठ शाल्मले: पवनस्य च,भीष्मजीने कहा--भरतश्रेष्ठ! इस विषयमें विज्ञ पुरुष वायु और सेमलवृक्षके संवादरूप एक प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
Bhīṣma uvāca: atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | saṁvādaṁ Bharataśreṣṭha śālmaleḥ pavanasya ca ||
Bhishma said: “Here too, O best of the Bharatas, the wise cite an ancient historical example—namely, a dialogue between the silk-cotton tree (śālmali) and the Wind.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma signals that ethical instruction is often clarified through precedent: an old illustrative story (itihāsa) is introduced to illuminate the dharmic point being discussed, using a dialogue format between symbolic figures (Wind and a tree).
Bhishma begins an exemplifying tale, telling Yudhiṣṭhira that learned people cite an ancient account—a conversation between the śālmali tree and the Wind—which will serve as the next illustrative episode in his teaching.