Shloka 1
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
ऑपन--माजल बछ। जि चतुथों5 ध्याय: आजमीढके वंशका वर्णन तथा विश्वामित्रके जन्मकी कथा और उनके पुत्रोंके नाम भीष्म उवाच श्रूयतां पार्थ तत्त्वेन विश्वामित्रो यथा पुरा । ब्राह्मणत्वं गतस्तात ब्रद्यूर्षित्वं तथैव च
Bhīṣma uvāca: Śrūyatāṃ Pārtha tattvena Viśvāmitro yathā purā | Brāhmaṇatvaṃ gataḥ tāta brahmarṣitvaṃ tathaiva ca ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dengarlah, wahai Partha, akan kebenaran tentang bagaimana Vishvamitra pada zaman purba pernah mencapai kedudukan sebagai seorang Brahmana—dan demikian juga martabat sebagai seorang Brahmarshi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a moral-spiritual lesson: through truth, discipline, and sustained effort (tapas), a person can attain higher ethical and spiritual stature—symbolized by Vishvamitra’s rise to Brahminhood and Brahmarshi-hood.
Bhishma addresses Arjuna and announces that he will narrate, truthfully and in detail, the ancient account of Vishvamitra—specifically how Vishvamitra came to attain the status of a Brahmin and then a Brahmarshi.