Shloka 2
Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda
Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरूरवस ऐलस्य संवादं मातरिश्वन:,इस विषयमें विद्वान्ू लोग इला कुमार पुरूरवा तथा वायुके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | purūravas ailasya saṃvādaṃ mātariśvanaḥ ||
Di sini juga, para cendekiawan mengemukakan satu teladan sejarah purba: dialog antara Purūravas, putera Ilā, dengan Mātariśvan (Vāyu). Dengan menyeru kisah lama ini, Bhīṣma menandakan bahawa pokok etika yang dibincangkan disokong oleh preseden berwibawa serta nasihat renungan, bukan sekadar pendapat semata-mata.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes that dharma is clarified through time-tested precedents: when a moral issue is subtle, one should consult authoritative tradition (itihāsa) and the counsel of the wise, not impulse or isolated reasoning.
Bhīṣma introduces an illustrative ancient story, specifically a dialogue between King Purūravas (son of Ilā) and Mātariśvan (Vāyu), indicating that the forthcoming teaching will be framed through their conversation.