Shloka 5
देवराजेन च पुरा कथितैषा कथा शुभा । समस्तेभ्य: प्रशस्तेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो वसुधाधिप,पृथ्वीनाथ! तत्पश्चात् पूर्वकालमें देवराज इन्द्रने सभी श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंके समक्ष यह शुभ कथा कही
devarājena ca purā kathitaiṣā kathā śubhā | samastebhyaḥ praśastebhyo viprebhyo vasudhādhipa pṛthvīnātha |
Bhīṣma berkata: Wahai penguasa bumi, wahai raja negeri, pada zaman dahulu Indra, raja para dewa, pernah menuturkan kisah yang membawa berkat ini di hadapan semua Brahmana yang termasyhur dan dimuliakan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes the authority and auspiciousness of the teaching by tracing it to Indra and to an assembly of eminent Brāhmaṇas, implying that dharma-instruction should be received through respected lineage and learned counsel.
Bhīṣma addresses the king and introduces a forthcoming discourse as an ancient, auspicious story once spoken by Indra before a gathering of venerable Brāhmaṇas, setting the stage for the lesson that follows.