Shloka 50
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
अश्वग्रीव: पुलोमा च स्वर्भानुरमितध्वज: । प्रह्नादो नमुचिर्दक्षो विप्रचित्तिविरोचन:
aśvagrīvaḥ pulomā ca svarbhānur amitadhvajaḥ | prahrādo namucir dakṣo vipracittivirocanaḥ ||
അശ്വഗ്രീവൻ, പുലോമാ, അമിതധ്വജൻ സ്വർഭാനു, പ്രഹ്ലാദൻ, നമുചി, ദക്ഷൻ, വിപ്രചിത്തി, വിരോചനൻ—ഇവ (പ്രസിദ്ധ) നാമങ്ങളാണ്.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse, as part of a larger Śānti Parva exposition, underscores that worldly power and celebrated names can belong to forces opposed to dharma; ethical discernment values right conduct over mere might or fame.
Bhīṣma is listing notable asura/dānava figures in an enumerative passage, naming several prominent beings as part of a broader discussion that contextualizes power, conflict, and moral order.