Shloka 4
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । भगीरथस्य संवादं ब्रह्मणश्ष महात्मन:,इस विषयमें विज्ञ पुरुष राजा भगीरथ और महात्मा ब्रह्माजीके संवादरूप एक प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | bhagīrathasya saṃvādaṃ brahmaṇaś ca mahātmanaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dalam hal ini juga, orang bijaksana menyebut suatu teladan purba—sebuah kisah lama—iaitu dialog antara Raja Bhagiratha dan Brahma yang berhati agung. Dengan mengingati pertukaran kata itu, pemahaman yang tepat tentang perkara ini diterangkan melalui contoh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That ethical questions are clarified by appealing to authoritative precedent: the tradition preserves exemplary narratives (itihāsa) whose dialogues and outcomes illuminate dharma.
Bhishma signals a shift into an illustrative story: he introduces an ancient account, specifically a dialogue between King Bhagiratha and Brahmā, to serve as an example relevant to the topic under discussion.