Shloka 24
Pitāmaha-sabhā-varṇana & Hariścandra-māhātmya
Description of Brahmā’s Assembly and the Eminence of Hariścandra
असितो देवलश्रैव जैगीषव्यश्व तत्त्ववित् ऋषभो जितशबत्रुश्न महावीर्यस्तथा मणि:,असित, देवल, तत्त्वज्ञानी जैगीषव्य, शत्रुविजयी ऋषभ, महापराक्रमी मणि
asito devalaś caiva jaigīṣavyaś ca tattvavit | ṛṣabho jitaśatruś ca mahāvīryas tathā maṇiḥ ||
Nārada berkata: “Asita, Devala, dan Jaigīṣavya—para mengetahui kebenaran—bersama Ṛṣabha yang telah menundukkan musuh-musuhnya, dan Maṇi yang masyhur dengan keperkasaan besar: para resi unggul ini patut dihitung antara yang terdepan.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ‘tattvavit’—knowledge of truth—as a primary mark of greatness, placing spiritual insight and disciplined excellence alongside (and above) worldly victory and prowess.
Narada is listing distinguished sages by name, identifying them with honorific qualities (truth-knowing, enemy-conquering, mighty), thereby establishing a lineage of respected authorities within the discourse.