Shloka 2
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मनो: प्रजापतेर्वादं सुवर्णस्य च भारत,भीष्मजीने कहा--भारत! इस विषयमें प्रजापति मनु और सुवर्णके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया जाता है
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | manoḥ prajāpater vādaṁ suvarṇasya ca bhārata |
भीष्म उवाच—अत्राप्युदाहरन्ति पुरातनमितिहासम्। प्रजापतेर्मनोर्वादं सुवर्णस्य च भारत।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharma is often clarified through authoritative precedents: Bhishma introduces an ancient illustrative narrative (itihāsa) to ground the ethical discussion in a recognized example rather than mere opinion.
Bhishma, addressing Yudhishthira as ‘Bharata,’ announces that he will cite an old account—specifically a dialogue between Prajapati Manu and Suvarṇa—as an example relevant to the topic being discussed.