Shloka 29
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्येडहमितिहासं पुरातनम् । उदीच्यां दिशि यद् वृत्तं म्लेच्छेषु मनुजाधिप
bhīṣma uvāca hanta te vartayiṣye ’ham itihāsaṃ purātanam | udīcyāṃ diśi yad vṛttaṃ mleccheṣu manujādhipa ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Sige, isasalaysay ko sa iyo ang isang sinaunang salaysay. O panginoon ng mga tao, ito’y tungkol sa pangyayaring naganap sa hilagang dako, sa lupain ng mga Mleccha.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-oriented instruction through an ancient exemplum: Bhishma signals that ethical guidance for a king may be conveyed via old narratives, even when the setting lies beyond orthodox cultural regions (among the Mlecchas).
Bhishma begins a new illustrative tale, telling the king that he will narrate an ancient incident that took place in the northern lands among the Mlecchas, preparing the listener for a didactic episode.