Shloka 1
Jvarotpatti — The Origin and Distribution of Jvara
Fever
अपन क्ाता छा हर: 2 पज्चसप्तर्त्याधिकाद्वेशततमो< ध्याय: जीवात्माके देहाभिमानसे मुक्त होनेके विषयमें नारद और असितदेवलका संवाद भीष्म उवाच अनत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् | नारदस्य च संवादं देवलस्यासितस्य च
Bhīṣma uvāca — atraivodāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | Nāradasya ca saṃvādaṃ Devalasyāsitasya ca ||
Dijo Bhishma: “Yudhiṣṭhira, en relación con esto mismo, los sabios citan un antiguo ejemplo histórico: el diálogo entre el divino rishi Nārada y el brahmarshi Asita Devala. Se trae a colación para esclarecer cómo el ser encarnado puede liberarse del engaño de identificarse con el cuerpo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma introduces an authoritative illustrative story: liberation begins with loosening dehābhimāna—mistaking the body for the self. The forthcoming Narada–Asita Devala dialogue is presented as a guide toward self-knowledge and inner detachment, central to dharma in the Shanti Parva.
While instructing Yudhishthira, Bhishma signals that he will support his teaching by citing an ancient precedent. He names the speakers of that precedent—Narada and the sage Asita Devala—thereby framing the next section as a didactic dialogue.