Shloka 6
Adhyāya 26 — Ekākṣara-Brahman (“Om”) and the Hṛdayastha Guru
Inner Teacher
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् | प्रजापतौ पन्नगानां देवर्षीणां च संविदम्
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | prajāpatau pannagānāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca saṃvidam pūrvakālam ||
Ici encore, les savants invoquent un précédent antique : l’ancien récit du dialogue qui, jadis, se tint en présence de Prajāpati entre les serpents (Nāgas) et les voyants divins. On s’en souvient comme d’un exemple édifiant pour éclairer la question présente.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ethical questions are clarified by appealing to authoritative precedent: ancient narratives (itihāsa) and remembered dialogues of sages are used to illuminate dharma and proper conduct.
The Brahmin speaker introduces an old story as an illustrative example—an earlier discussion held before Prajāpati between the serpents and the divine seers—signaling that the forthcoming account will serve as guidance for the present issue.