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 ||
ビーシュマは語った。「その中には、アトリの子で正法の心を具えた聖者、またサーラスヴァタ仙もいる。これら七人はヴァルナの祭官（ṛtvij）で、西方に住まう者たち——ドリḍヘユ、リテユ、名高きキールティマーン、パリヴィヤーダ、太陽に比すべき輝きを放つ者、そしてエカタ・ドヴィタ・トリタと名づけられた三者である。かくして、西に住むヴァルナの七祭官が列挙された。」
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.