Shloka 2
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । देवक्याश्रैव संवाद महर्षेनरिदस्थ च
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | devakyāś caiva saṁvādaṁ maharṣeḥ nāradasya ca ||
Bhīṣma thưa: “Trong việc này, bậc hiền trí cũng thường dẫn một điển tích cổ xưa làm chứng—chính là cuộc đối thoại giữa phu nhân Devakī và đại hiền Nārada.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames his instruction by appealing to authoritative precedent: ethical guidance is strengthened when supported by an ancient, respected narrative (itihāsa), here the Devakī–Nārada dialogue.
Bhīṣma, speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira, introduces an old illustrative story and specifies its source: a conversation between Devakī and the sage Nārada, which will be used to clarify the present dharma-question.