ऋषिरासीन्महा भागो देवशर्मेति विश्रुत:
ṛṣir āsīn mahābhāgo devaśarmeti viśrutaḥ
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “กาลก่อนมีฤๅษีผู้ยิ่งใหญ่และเปี่ยมบุญญาธิการ ผู้เลื่องชื่อว่า เทวศรมัน”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse introduces an exemplary figure—a renowned sage—signaling that ethical instruction is often conveyed through the lives and reputations of the virtuous, whose conduct becomes a model for dharma.
Bhīṣma begins a didactic account by presenting the protagonist: a famous and illustrious ṛṣi named Devaśarman, setting the stage for the lesson that follows.