Shloka 2
भीष्म उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्येडहमितिहासं पुरातनम् । साध्यानामिह संवादं हंसस्य च युधिषछ्िर
bhīṣma uvāca | atra te vartayiṣye 'ham itihāsaṃ purātanam | sādhyānām iha saṃvādaṃ haṃsasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
Бхишма сказал: «Здесь я поведаю тебе древнее предание. О Юдхиштхира, это беседа, что по этому вопросу произошла между садхьями (Sādhyas) и Хамсой (Haṃsa), и я сейчас её изложу.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical instruction through an authoritative ancient exemplum (itihāsa): Bhishma signals that dharma is best understood not only through rules but through reflective dialogue and inherited wisdom, here embodied in the discourse between divine Sādhyas and the discerning Haṃsa.
Bhishma begins a new illustrative episode within the Shanti Parva, telling Yudhishthira that he will narrate an old account—specifically a dialogue involving the Sādhyas and the Haṃsa—setting up a didactic conversation meant to clarify the issue under discussion.