Shloka 65
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
विरूपाश्वेन निमिना जनकेन च धीमता । ऐलेन पृथुना चैव वीरसेनेन चैव ह
virūpāśvena niminā janakena ca dhīmatā | ailena pṛthunā caiva vīrasenena caiva ha ||
భీష్ముడు పలికెను—విరూపాశ్వుడు, నిమి, జ్ఞానవంతుడైన జనకుడు, ఐలుడు, పృథువు మరియు వీరసేనుడు—వీరందరూ ఈ (ధర్మ/ఉపదేశాన్ని) నిలిపి చూపారు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma reinforces dharma by citing authoritative exemplars—renowned kings and king-sages—implying that the teaching he is giving is not merely theoretical but validated by the conduct of celebrated rulers.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira and supports his point by listing past kings (Virūpāśva, Nimi, Janaka, Aila, Pṛthu, Vīrasena) as precedents who practiced or upheld the same principle.