Shloka 1
ऑपन-माजल बछ। जज द्वात्रिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: दिग्गजोंका धर्मसम्बन्धी रहस्य एवं प्रभाव भीष्म उवाच ततः पद्मप्रतीकाश: पद्मोद्भूत: पितामह: । उवाच वचन देवान् वासवं च शचीपतिम्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर कमलके समान कान्तिमान् कमलोदभव ब्रह्माजीने देवताओं तथा शचीपति इन्द्रसे इस प्रकार कहा--
Bhīṣma uvāca: tataḥ padmapratīkāśaḥ padmodbhūtaḥ pitāmahaḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ devān vāsavaṃ ca śacīpatim ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja! Kemudian Datuk Agung—Brahmā yang lahir dari teratai, bersinar laksana teratai—berkata kepada para dewa dan juga Vāsava (Indra), suami Śacī, dengan kata-kata berikut.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets an ethical frame of instruction: authoritative dharma-knowledge is conveyed through a revered elder (Brahmā) addressing the gods and Indra, implying that right conduct and its ‘secrets/effects’ are grounded in divine and traditional authority.
Bhīṣma transitions into a new episode: Brahmā, described as lotus-born and lotus-radiant, begins a formal address to the assembled gods and to Indra (Śacī’s lord), introducing the discourse that follows in the chapter.