Shloka 37
अत्रे: पुत्रश्न धर्मात्मा ऋषि: सारस्वतस्तथा । वरुणस्यर्त्विज: सप्त पश्षचिमां दिशमाश्रिता:
atreḥ putraś ca dharmātmā ṛṣiḥ sārasvatas tathā | varuṇasyartvijaḥ sapta paścimāṁ diśam āśritāḥ || dṛḍheyuḥ ṛteyuḥ kīrtimān parivyādhaḥ sūryakā-sadṛśa-tejasvī ekataḥ dvitā tritā tathā dharmātmā atreḥ putraḥ sārasvata-muniḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Parmi eux se trouvent le fils d’Atri, un sage à l’âme droite, ainsi que le sage Sārasvata. Ces sept-là sont les ṛtvij, prêtres officiants de Varuṇa, demeurant dans le quartier de l’Ouest : Dṛḍheyu, Ṛteyu, Kīrtimān, Parivyādha, le resplendissant dont l’éclat est pareil au soleil, et les trois nommés Ekata, Dvita et Trita. Ainsi sont énumérés les sept ṛtvij de Varuṇa qui résident à l’Ouest.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed through proper ritual order and righteous sages: Varuṇa’s priests are identified and situated, underscoring that cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) is maintained by disciplined, duly appointed officiants and venerable seers.
Bhīṣma is listing and locating a set of seven sages/priests connected with Varuṇa, naming them and stating that their residence is in the western quarter, as part of a broader instructional enumeration in the Anuśāsana Parva.