Shloka 10
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । अष्टावक्रस्य संवादं दिशया सह भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भरतनन्दन! इस विषयमें अष्टावक्र मुनिका उत्तर दिशाकी अधिष्ठात्रीदेवीके साथ जो संवाद हुआ था, उसी प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया जाता है
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | aṣṭāvakrasya saṃvādaṃ diśayā saha bhārata |
Bhīṣma disse: «Também aqui, ó Bharata, cita-se um precedente antigo: o diálogo do sábio Aṣṭāvakra com a deusa que preside a direção do Norte. Ao recordar esse relato de outrora, esclarece-se a questão da reta conduta por meio de um exemplo de autoridade.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharma is often clarified through authoritative precedents (itihāsa): Bhishma introduces an ancient dialogue as a model example to illuminate the ethical point under discussion.
Bhishma, addressing Yudhishthira as ‘Bharata,’ signals a transition: he is about to narrate an old story—Ashtavakra’s dialogue with the presiding deity of a direction (noted in the Gita Press Hindi gloss as the northern quarter)—to support his instruction.