Shloka 3
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । प्रह्मदस्य च संवादमिन्द्रस्य च युधिष्ठिर
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | prahlādasya ca saṃvādam indrasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ! ਇਸ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਲੋਕ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੀ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ— ਪ੍ਰਹਲਾਦ ਅਤੇ ਇੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਸੰਵਾਦ ਦੀ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction through an authoritative precedent: ethical and dharmic questions are clarified by recalling time-tested exemplars (itihasa) and the insights of the wise, here introduced via the Prahlada–Indra dialogue.
Bhishma signals a transition into a supporting story: he tells Yudhishthira that an ancient account is traditionally cited in this context, specifically a conversation between Prahlada and Indra, which will serve as the illustrative example for the teaching that follows.