Shloka 7
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । नारदस्य च संवादमृषे्नारायणस्यथ च,इस विषयमें जानकार लोग देवर्षि नारद और नारायण ऋषिके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | nāradasya ca saṁvādam ṛṣer nārāyaṇasya ca ||
Here too, the learned cite an ancient precedent: a venerable historical account in the form of a dialogue between the divine sage Nārada and the seer Nārāyaṇa—offered as an illustrative example for this very subject.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma signals that the topic under discussion is best understood through authoritative precedent: an ancient itihāsa presented as a dialogue between revered sages. The method emphasizes learning dharma through exemplars and time-tested testimony rather than mere assertion.
Bhīṣma introduces (or prepares to introduce) an old illustrative story. He notes that knowledgeable people traditionally cite a specific dialogue—between Devarṣi Nārada and Ṛṣi Nārāyaṇa—as the relevant example for the present issue.