Shloka 2

Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्‌ । सरितां चैव संवादं सागरस्यथ च भारत

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | saritāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ sāgarasyātha ca bhārata ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“在此亦然，婆罗多啊，智者常引一则古老先例——一段以诸河与大海对话为体的上古故事。”

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अत्र: here; in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उदाहरन्ति: they cite; they adduce (as an example)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इतिहासम्: story; legend; historical tale
• इतिहासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• संवादम्: dialogue; conversation
• संवादम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सागरस्य: of the ocean
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then; and further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)
• Rivers (Sarit)
• Ocean/Sea (Sāgara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma frames his instruction by invoking an authoritative ancient exemplum (itihāsa): ethical guidance is strengthened by precedent and traditional narratives, especially those illustrating principles through dialogue.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma tells Yudhiṣṭhira that, regarding the topic under discussion, learned people traditionally cite an old story—specifically a dialogue between the rivers and the Ocean—which he is about to recount.