Shloka 2
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । सरितां चैव संवादं सागरस्यथ च भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भारत! इस विषयमें विज्ञ पुरुष सरिताओं तथा समुद्रके संवादरूप एक प्राचीन उपाख्यानका दृष्टान्त दिया करते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | saritāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ sāgarasyātha ca bhārata ||
Bhishma berkata: “Di sini juga, wahai Bharata, orang bijaksana menyebut suatu teladan purba—sebuah kisah lama dalam bentuk dialog antara sungai-sungai dan Samudera.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction by invoking an authoritative ancient exemplum (itihāsa): ethical guidance is strengthened by precedent and traditional narratives, especially those illustrating principles through dialogue.
Bhishma tells Yudhiṣṭhira that, regarding the topic under discussion, learned people traditionally cite an old story—specifically a dialogue between the rivers and the Ocean—which he is about to recount.