धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
द्वादशैव तथा55दित्यान् वामपाश्चे समास्थितान् । अग्रतश्वैव मे पश्य वसूनष्टौ सुरोत्तमान्
dvādaśaiva tathādityān vāmapāśce samāsthitān | agrataścaiva me paśya vasūnaṣṭau surottamān ||
त्याचप्रमाणे माझ्या डाव्या पार्श्वभागी बारा आदित्य स्थित आहेत. आणि माझ्या अग्रभागी देवश्रेष्ठ आठ वसु आहेत—हे सर्व प्रत्यक्ष पाहा.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse emphasizes direct witnessing of the cosmic order: Bhishma points out established groups of deities (Adityas and Vasus) in their proper positions, underscoring a structured divine hierarchy that supports dharma and the world’s stability.
Bhishma is describing a visionary or revealed scene and instructs the listener to look: the twelve Adityas are seen on his left, and the eight Vasus are seen in front, presented as tangible, directly perceivable presences.