प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मनो: प्रजापतेर्वाद महर्षेश्व॒ बृहस्पते:
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | manoḥ prajāpater vādaṃ maharṣeś ca bṛhaspateḥ ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ— ਰਾਜਨ! ਇਸ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੀ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ— ਪ੍ਰਜਾਪਤੀ ਮਨੂ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਾਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਬ੍ਰਿਹਸਪਤੀ ਦਾ ਸੰਵਾਦ।
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma frames the forthcoming instruction as grounded in authoritative tradition: ethical and dharmic questions are clarified by citing an ancient precedent, specifically a dialogue between Manu and Brihaspati.
Bhishma transitions into an illustrative story: he announces that an old itihasa—structured as a debate/discussion between Prajapati Manu and the sage Brihaspati—will be presented as an example relevant to the topic under discussion.