अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । नारदस्य च संवादमृषे्नारायणस्यथ च,इस विषयमें जानकार लोग देवर्षि नारद और नारायण ऋषिके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | nāradasya ca saṁvādam ṛṣer nārāyaṇasya ca ||
ในเรื่องนี้เอง บัณฑิตทั้งหลายยกแบบอย่างโบราณขึ้นกล่าว คือเรื่องราวเก่าแก่ในรูปสนทนาระหว่างเทวฤๅษีนารทกับฤๅษีนารายณะ
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma signals that the topic under discussion is best understood through authoritative precedent: an ancient itihāsa presented as a dialogue between revered sages. The method emphasizes learning dharma through exemplars and time-tested testimony rather than mere assertion.
Bhīṣma introduces (or prepares to introduce) an old illustrative story. He notes that knowledgeable people traditionally cite a specific dialogue—between Devarṣi Nārada and Ṛṣi Nārāyaṇa—as the relevant example for the present issue.