Shloka 2
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । देवक्याश्रैव संवाद महर्षेनरिदस्थ च
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | devakyāś caiva saṁvādaṁ maharṣeḥ nāradasya ca ||
भीष्म ने कहा—युधिष्ठिर! इस विषय में विद्वान लोग एक प्राचीन इतिहास का उदाहरण देते हैं—देवकी देवी और महर्षि नारद का संवाद।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames his instruction by appealing to authoritative precedent: ethical guidance is strengthened when supported by an ancient, respected narrative (itihāsa), here the Devakī–Nārada dialogue.
Bhīṣma, speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira, introduces an old illustrative story and specifies its source: a conversation between Devakī and the sage Nārada, which will be used to clarify the present dharma-question.