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 ||
ここでもまた、学識ある者たちは古の先例を引く。すなわち、はるかな昔、プラジャーパティの御前において、ナーガ（蛇族）と天の聖仙（デーヴァリシ）とが交わした対話の古伝である。それは、当面の事柄を理解するための教訓的な例として想起される。
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.