Shloka 2
Haṃsa–Sādhya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dama, Kṣamā and the Discipline of Speech
भीष्म उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्येडहमितिहासं पुरातनम् । अरिष्टनेमिना प्रोक्ते सगरायानुपृच्छते,भीष्मजीने कहा--राजन्! इस विषयमें राजा सगरके प्रश्न करनेपर अरिष्टनेमिने जो उत्तर दिया था, वह प्राचीन इतिहास मैं तुम्हें बताऊँगा
bhīṣma uvāca | atra te vartayiṣyed aham itihāsaṃ purātanam | ariṣṭaneminā prokte sagarāyānupṛcchate ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Tại đây ta sẽ kể cho con nghe một tích xưa. Khi vua Sagara nêu câu hỏi, Ariṣṭanemi đã đáp lời—nay ta sẽ thuật lại câu chuyện cổ ấy.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical instruction through an authoritative ‘ancient narrative’ (itihāsa): Bhishma signals that dharma is best understood not only through abstract rules but through precedent—how wise figures answered concrete royal questions.
Bhishma begins a new exemplum: he tells the listener that he will recount an old story in which King Sagara questioned Ariṣṭanemi, and Ariṣṭanemi responded—Bhishma is about to relay that exchange.