Shloka 7
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
भीष्म उवाच अन्न ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । वसिष्ठस्थ च संवादं करालजनकस्य च
bhīṣma uvāca: anna te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam | vasiṣṭhasya ca saṃvādaṃ karālajanakasya ca ||
பீஷ்மன் கூறினான்—யுதிஷ்டிரா! நான் உனக்கு ஒரு பழமையான வரலாற்றைச் சொல்கிறேன்—கராளன் எனப்படும் ஜனகனுக்கும் வசிஷ்டருக்கும் நடந்த உரையாடல் அதுவே.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction by invoking an authoritative ancient precedent: a dialogue between a sage (Vasiṣṭha) and a king (Janaka). The verse emphasizes that ethical and dharmic questions are clarified through time-tested narratives and exemplary conversations.
Bhishma tells Yudhiṣṭhira that he will now recount an old itihāsa—specifically the conversation that took place between Vasiṣṭha and Janaka called Karāla—setting up the next section of teaching.