Shloka 2
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गीत॑ दृष्टार्थतत्त्वेन वामदेवेन धीमता
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | gītaṁ dṛṣṭārthatattvena vāmadevena dhīmatā ||
भीष्मजी बोले—राजन्! इस विषय में लोग तत्त्वदर्शी बुद्धिमान महर्षि वामदेव द्वारा गाया गया उपदेशरूप एक प्राचीन इतिहास उदाहरण के रूप में प्रस्तुत करते हैं।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that ethical instruction is strengthened by precedent: an ancient itihāsa and a realized sage’s utterance (Vāmadeva’s gīta) are invoked as authoritative guidance grounded in direct insight into truth.
Bhishma, addressing the king, introduces an illustrative ancient account. He signals that the next teaching will be supported by a traditional example attributed to the wise sage Vāmadeva.