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 ||
毗湿摩说道：“婆罗多啊，此处亦援引一则古老先例：一段传统记载，以弗利沙达尔毗王（Vṛṣādarbhī）与七圣（Seven Sages）之对话为体。”
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.