Shloka 7
Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । च्यवनस्य च संवादं कुशिकस्य च भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भारत! इस विषयमें महर्षि च्यवन और राजा कुशिकके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | cyavanasya ca saṁvādaṁ kuśikasya ca bhārata ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Bharata, dalam perkara ini pun orang mengutip sebuah teladan kuno—sebuah kisah lama—yakni dialog antara resi Cyavana dan Raja Kuśika.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction by appealing to itihāsa—an authoritative ancient precedent—signaling that dharma is clarified not only by rules but also by exemplary narratives, especially dialogues between sages and kings.
Bhishma introduces a traditional story as an illustration: he is about to recount the ancient dialogue between the sage Cyavana and King Kuśika to support the point under discussion.