ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
अनत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
anatraivodāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam
Di sini juga, akan aku petik sebuah kisah tradisi purba sebagai teladan.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma signals a didactic method: ethical principles are clarified by citing an ancient exemplary narrative (itihāsa) relevant to the present discussion.
As part of his instruction in the Śānti Parva, Bhishma introduces an old story that will serve as an illustrative precedent for the topic under discussion.