Shloka 2
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मनो: प्रजापतेर्वाद महर्षेश्व॒ बृहस्पते:
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | manoḥ prajāpater vādaṃ maharṣeś ca bṛhaspateḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王，此事亦有古例可引：乃是旧时传说，以生主摩奴（Prajāpati Manu）与大圣布里哈斯帕提（Bṛhaspati）之对话为体。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames the forthcoming instruction as grounded in authoritative tradition: ethical and dharmic questions are clarified by citing an ancient precedent, specifically a dialogue between Manu and Brihaspati.
Bhishma transitions into an illustrative story: he announces that an old itihasa—structured as a debate/discussion between Prajapati Manu and the sage Brihaspati—will be presented as an example relevant to the topic under discussion.