Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
इतिहासमिमं चापि शूणु राजन् पुरातनम्
itihāsam imaṃ cāpi śṛṇu rājan purātanam
بھیشم نے کہا—اے راجن! اس قدیم تاریخ (روایت) کو بھی سنو۔
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma frames moral instruction through itihāsa—an authoritative ancient narrative—implying that dharma is best understood not only through rules but through remembered examples and precedents.
In the Anuśāsana Parva discourse, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and introduces an old story, signaling a transition into an illustrative episode meant to clarify ethical or royal duty.