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 disse: Ó senhor da terra, ó governante do reino, outrora Indra, rei dos deuses, narrou este relato auspicioso na presença de todos os brâmanes eminentes e veneráveis.
भीष्म उवाच
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.