कुरु: संवरणश्वैव मान्धाता सत्यविक्रम: । मुचुकुन्दश्न राजर्षिजह्लुर्जाह्नविसेवित:
bhīṣma uvāca | kuruḥ saṃvaraṇaś caiva māndhātā satyavikramaḥ | mucukundaś ca rājarṣiḥ jahnuḥ jāhnavī-sevitaḥ ||
भीष्म ने कहा—(स्मरण करो) कुरु और संवरण; सत्यपराक्रमी मान्धाता; राजर्षि मुचुकुन्द; तथा जह्नु, जिनकी सेवा जाह्नवी (गंगा) ने की।
भीष्म उवाच
The verse promotes dharmic orientation through remembrance of exemplary rulers: recalling kings famed for truth, valor, and sage-like discipline is presented as a morally formative practice that inspires righteous conduct and reverence for dharma.
Bhishma continues enumerating celebrated royal figures within a larger passage that extols the merit of reciting or remembering the names of virtuous kings; this segment names Kuru, Saṃvaraṇa, Māndhātā, Mucukunda, and Jahnu associated with the river Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā).