Shloka 13
अत्रिणा त्वथ सामर्थ्य कृतमुत्तमतेजसा । द्विजेनाग्निद्धितीयेन जपता चर्मवाससा
atriṇā tv atha sāmarthyaṁ kṛtam uttama-tejasā | dvijena agni-dvitīyena japatā carma-vāsasā ||
Bhishma berkata— “Perhatikanlah daya luar biasa yang ditunjukkan resi Atri—sang dwija yang bercahaya dengan keagungan rohani tertinggi—yang menjadikan api suci (agnihotra) seakan sahabat keduanya, tekun melantunkan japa, berselimut kulit rusa dalam laku tapa. Pandanglah kebesaran perbuatannya: ia berpegang pada japa Gayatri, hidup dari buah-buahan, dan memelihara api suci. Telah kuuraikan panjang lebar karya sang mahatma Atri itu. Maka kukatakan: brāhmaṇa adalah yang utama; kini katakanlah—kṣatriya manakah yang lebih unggul daripada Atri?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights that true superiority is grounded in tapas, ritual steadiness, and spiritual radiance (tejas). By pointing to Atri’s disciplined life—Agnihotra, japa, and ascetic simplicity—he argues that brahminical excellence is measured by inner power and dharmic practice rather than worldly force.
Bhīṣma is citing the example of the sage Atri’s remarkable accomplishment and asking his listener to recognize Atri’s greatness. He uses this as a rhetorical challenge: if one seeks a kṣatriya greater than Atri, who would it be—implying that Atri’s spiritual achievements surpass typical martial standards of greatness.