Shloka 2
भीष्मजीने कहा--तात! कुन्तीनन्दन! पूर्वकालमें विश्वामित्रजीने जिस प्रकार ब्राह्मणत्व तथा ब्रह्मर्षित्व प्राप्त किया, वह प्रसंग यथार्थरूपसे बता रहा हूँ, सुनो ।। भरतस्यान्वये चैवाजमीढो नाम पार्थिव: । बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ यज्वा धर्मभूतां वर:,भरतवंशमें अजमीढ नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक राजा हो गये हैं। भरतश्रेष्ठ) वे राजा अजमीढ यज्ञकर्ता एवं धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ थे
Bhīṣma uvāca—Tāta, Kuntīnandana! Pūrvakāle Viśvāmitreṇa yathā brāhmaṇatvaṃ tathā brahmarṣitvaṃ ca prāptaṃ, tat prasangaṃ yathārtharūpeṇa te kathayiṣyāmi—śṛṇu. Bharatasya anvaye caiva Ajmīḍho nāma pārthivaḥ babhūva; Bharataśreṣṭha, sa rājā yajvā dharmabhūtānāṃ varaḥ.
Bhishma said: “Dear one, son of Kunti! I shall relate to you, truthfully and in proper sequence, the episode of how, in ancient times, Vishvamitra attained the status of a Brahmin and then the rank of a Brahmarshi—listen. In the lineage of Bharata there arose a king named Ajmida; O best of the Bharatas, that king was a performer of sacrifices and foremost among the righteous.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as something validated by conduct and disciplined practice: Vishvamitra’s rise toward Brahminhood and Brahmarshi status is introduced as an ethical-spiritual achievement, while Ajmida is praised as ‘yajvā’ and foremost among the righteous—linking legitimate authority to sacrifice, self-restraint, and dharmic character.
Bhishma begins a new illustrative account for Yudhishthira: he announces he will narrate the earlier story of Vishvamitra’s attainment, and he sets genealogical context by mentioning that in Bharata’s dynasty a king named Ajmida arose, renowned for performing sacrifices and for righteousness.