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 ||
Di sini pun para bijak mengutip sebuah teladan purba: kisah lama tentang dialog yang dahulu kala berlangsung di hadapan Prajāpati antara para Nāga dan para resi ilahi. Riwayat itu dikenang sebagai contoh pengajaran untuk memahami perkara ini.
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.