Shloka 3

Devanagari script

ये त्वेकरतयो नित्यं धीराशक्ष प्रियवादिन: । परस्परस्य सुहृद: समन्तात्‌ समदर्शिन:,जो सदा एकमात्र यजमानके ही हित-साधनमें तत्पर रहनेवाले, धीर, प्रियवादी, एक- दूसरेके सुहृद्‌ तथा सब ओर समान दृष्टि रखनेवाले हैं, वे ही ऋत्विज्‌ होनेके योग्य हैं

Transliteration

ye tv ekaratayo nityaṃ dhīrāś ca priya-vādinaḥ | parasparasya suhṛdaḥ samantāt sama-darśinaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Those who are ever single-minded in their service, steady and self-controlled, gentle in speech, mutually well-wishers to one another, and impartial in their outlook on all sides—such persons alone are fit to serve as ṛtvij priests (officiants) for a sacrifice.

Word by Word

येwho (those who)

तुbut/indeed

एकरतयःsingle-minded; of one intent

नित्यम्always

धीराःsteadfast; wise

अशकाःcapable; competent

प्रियवादिनःspeaking pleasantly

परस्परस्यof one another

सुहृदःfriends; well-wishers

समन्तात्on all sides; entirely

समदर्शिनःseeing equally; impartial

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Ṛ

ṛtvij (sacrificial priests)

yajamāna (sacrificer; implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma defines ethical qualifications for sacrificial priests: unwavering dedication to the rite, steadiness and self-mastery, kind speech, mutual goodwill, and impartial vision. Ritual authority is grounded in character, not merely technical skill.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma advises on who should be chosen as ṛtvij priests for a sacrifice, emphasizing moral temperament and harmonious relations among officiants.