Shloka 7
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
भीष्म उवाच अन्न ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । वसिष्ठस्थ च संवादं करालजनकस्य च,भीष्मजीने कहा--युधिष्ठिर!! इस विषयमें कराल नामक जनक और वसिष्ठका जो संवाद हुआ था, वही प्राचीन इतिहास मैं तुम्हें बतलाऊँगा
bhīṣma uvāca: anna te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam | vasiṣṭhasya ca saṃvādaṃ karālajanakasya ca ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, aku akan mengisahkan kepadamu suatu tradisi purba. Itulah dialog antara Vasiṣṭha dan Janaka yang dikenali sebagai Karāla—kisah lama inilah akan aku tuturkan untuk menerangi perkara yang dibicarakan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction by invoking an authoritative ancient precedent: a dialogue between a sage (Vasiṣṭha) and a king (Janaka). The verse emphasizes that ethical and dharmic questions are clarified through time-tested narratives and exemplary conversations.
Bhishma tells Yudhiṣṭhira that he will now recount an old itihāsa—specifically the conversation that took place between Vasiṣṭha and Janaka called Karāla—setting up the next section of teaching.