Shloka 20
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । वृषादर्भेश्व॒ संवादं सप्तर्षीणां च भारत,भारत! इस विषयमें राजा वृषादर्भि और सप्तर्षियोंके संवादरूप एक प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया जाता है
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | vṛṣādarbhīśva-saṃvādaṃ saptarṣīṇāṃ ca bhārata ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Dito rin, O Bharata, binabanggit nila ang isang sinaunang halimbawa: isang salaysay na ayon sa kaugalian, na nasa anyo ng pag-uusap sa pagitan ni Haring Vṛṣādarbhī at ng Pitong Pantas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames his instruction by appealing to an ancient precedent (itihāsa), implying that dharma is best understood through authoritative examples and the tested counsel of sages rather than mere opinion.
Bhishma signals a shift into a cited old story: a dialogue between King Vṛṣādarbhī and the Seven Sages, which will serve as an illustrative case for the ethical point under discussion.