Shloka 4
भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या
Bhrigu–Bharadvaja Dialogue: A Karma-Based Account of Varṇa
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । इन्द्रकाश्यपसंवादं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर,युधिष्ठिर! इस विषयमें विज्ञ पुरुष इन्द्र और काश्यपके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं, उसे सुनो
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | indra-kāśyapa-saṃvādaṃ tan nibodha yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhishthira, tentang hal ini orang-orang berilmu sering mengemukakan satu teladan purba—sebuah kisah lama—dalam bentuk dialog antara Indra dan Kashyapa. Dengarkanlah.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical instruction is strengthened by citing authoritative ancient precedents (itihāsa); Bhishma frames his counsel through a respected dialogue (Indra–Kashyapa) to ground dharma in traditional exemplars.
Bhishma transitions into a new illustrative story: he tells Yudhishthira that wise people quote an ancient account, specifically a conversation between Indra and Kashyapa, and invites him to listen carefully.