Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
एतैश्नान्यैश्व राजेन्द्र कृपेण भरतेन च । दुष्पन्तेन करूषेण रामालर्कनरैस्तथा
etaiḥ snānyaiś ca rājendra kṛpeṇa bharatena ca | duṣpantena karūṣeṇa rāmālarkanarais tathā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô roi, avec ces autres encore—Kṛpa, Bharata, Duṣpanta, Karūṣa, et de même Rāma, Alarka et Nara—ils furent eux aussi célèbres comme exemples.»
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma reinforces dharma by citing renowned figures as standards of conduct: ethical instruction is strengthened through remembered exemplars whose lives function as precedents for a king’s decision-making.
In his discourse to the king, Bhīṣma lists celebrated rulers and heroes—Kṛpa, Bharata, Duṣpanta, Karūṣa, and others—continuing a catalogue meant to support his argument with authoritative historical-traditional examples.