Shloka 2
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । वासवस्य च संवादं शुकस्य च महात्मन:,भीष्मजीने कहा--युधिष्ठिर! इस विषयमें भी महामनस्वी तोते और इन्द्रका जो संवाद हुआ था, उस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया जाता है
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | vāsavasya ca saṃvādaṃ śukasya ca mahātmanaḥ |
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ในเรื่องนี้เองก็มีแบบอย่างโบราณยกขึ้นกล่าว คือเรื่องเก่าแก่แห่งบทสนทนาระหว่างวาสวะ (อินทรา) กับศุกะผู้มีจิตยิ่ง (นกแก้ว)”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction through an authoritative precedent: ethical guidance is strengthened by citing an ancient itihāsa, especially a dialogue involving a deity (Indra) and a noble being (Śuka), implying that dharma is clarified through tested exemplars.
Bhishma announces that, to illustrate the point under discussion, he will recount an old story—specifically the conversation between Indra (Vāsava) and the great-souled parrot Śuka—setting up a didactic episode to follow.