Shloka 3
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । जनकस्य च संवाद सुलभायाश्व भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भरतनन्दन! इस विषयमें जानकार मनुष्य जनक और सुलभाके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | janakasya ca saṃvādaṃ sulabhāyāś ca bhārata ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Di sini juga, wahai Bharata, orang-orang berilmu sering mengemukakan satu teladan sejarah purba—dialog antara Raja Janaka dan Sulabhā.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma signals that the ethical point under discussion will be clarified through a respected precedent: the ancient dialogue of Janaka and Sulabhā, implying that dharma is best understood through tested exemplars and reasoned discourse.
Bhishma introduces an illustrative story (itihāsa) and announces that he will recount the conversation between King Janaka and the ascetic-philosopher Sulabhā as an authoritative example for Bharata (Yudhiṣṭhira).