Shloka 54
अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ऋषीणामूर्थध्वरेतसाम् । प्रजावतां च पजचाशदृषीणामपि पाण्डव,पाण्डुनन्दन! अट्टासी हजार ऊर्ध्वरेता ऋषि और पचास संतानवान् महर्षि उस सभामें उपस्थित होते हैं
aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi ṛṣīṇām ūrdhvaretasām | prajāvatāṁ ca pañcāśad ṛṣīṇām api pāṇḍava ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai Pāṇḍava, ada lapan puluh lapan ribu resi yang hidup dalam brahmacarya yang ketat; dan ada juga lima puluh resi yang merupakan grihastha, diberkati dengan zuriat—mereka pun hadir di balairung itu.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms that dharma has multiple honored modes: rigorous renunciation (ūrdhvaretas, celibate ascetics) and responsible household life (prajāvat, with progeny). A righteous polity respects and accommodates both, drawing moral authority from their presence.
Nārada is describing the grandeur and sanctity of the royal assembly, noting the immense number of sages present—both celibate ascetics and householders—thereby portraying the sabhā as a spiritually weighty gathering, not merely a political court.