Bhishma said O Bharata, referring to this matter I shall recite to you the old discourse between Yajnavalkya and Janaka. Once on a time the famous king Daivarati of Janaka's race, truthfully understanding the meaning of all questions, put this question to Yajnavalkya, that foremost of Rishis.
भीष्म उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम्। याज्ञवल्क्यस्य संवादं जनकस्य च भारत॥ याज्ञवल्क्यमृषिश्रेष्ठं दैवरातिर्महायशाः। पप्रच्छ जनको राजा प्रश्न प्रश्नविदां वरम्॥