Shloka 2

Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’

Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्‌ । ऋषीणां चैव संवादं त्रिदशानां च भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भरतनन्दन! इस विषयमें ज्ञानीजन ऋषियों और देवताओंके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासको उद्धृत किया करते हैं--

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | ṛṣīṇāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ tridaśānāṃ ca bhārata ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “O Bharata (descendant of Bharata), in this very matter the wise also cite an ancient precedent—an old sacred narrative—framed as a dialogue between seers and the gods.”

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'atra api': 'here also

• in this very context', 'udāharanti': 'they cite

• they adduce as an example/authority', 'imam': 'this', 'itihāsam': 'traditional narrative

• ancient account/precedent', 'purātanam': 'ancient

• of old', 'ṛṣīṇām': 'of the seers/sages', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• and also (emphatic)', 'saṃvādam': 'dialogue

• conversation', 'tridaśānām': 'of the thirty (i.e., the gods)

• celestial beings', 'bhārata': 'O Bharata

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharata (Yudhiṣṭhira addressed as Bhārata)
• Ṛṣis (seers/sages)
• Tridaśas (gods/devas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical instruction is strengthened by precedent: Bhishma signals that the point under discussion is supported by an ancient itihāsa, presented as an authoritative dialogue between sages and gods, implying that dharma is best understood through time-tested exemplars.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma prepares to illustrate his current teaching to Yudhiṣṭhira by introducing an old story—specifically a conversation involving ṛṣis and the tridaśas (gods)—which he will recount as supporting evidence.