Shloka 37
अत्रे: पुत्रश्न धर्मात्मा ऋषि: सारस्वतस्तथा । वरुणस्यर्त्विज: सप्त पश्षचिमां दिशमाश्रिता:
atreḥ putraś ca dharmātmā ṛṣiḥ sārasvatas tathā | varuṇasyartvijaḥ sapta paścimāṁ diśam āśritāḥ || dṛḍheyuḥ ṛteyuḥ kīrtimān parivyādhaḥ sūryakā-sadṛśa-tejasvī ekataḥ dvitā tritā tathā dharmātmā atreḥ putraḥ sārasvata-muniḥ ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Entre eles estão o filho de Atri, um sábio de alma reta, e o sábio Sārasvata. Esses sete são os ṛtvij, sacerdotes oficiantes de Varuṇa, que habitam no quadrante do Oeste—Dṛḍheyu, Ṛteyu, Kīrtimān, Parivyādha, o resplandecente cujo brilho é como o do sol, e os três chamados Ekata, Dvita e Trita. Assim se enumeram os sete ṛtvij de Varuṇa que residem no Ocidente.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed through proper ritual order and righteous sages: Varuṇa’s priests are identified and situated, underscoring that cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) is maintained by disciplined, duly appointed officiants and venerable seers.
Bhīṣma is listing and locating a set of seven sages/priests connected with Varuṇa, naming them and stating that their residence is in the western quarter, as part of a broader instructional enumeration in the Anuśāsana Parva.