Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
तं॑ तथा निश्चितात्मानं स महात्मा महातपा: । ऋषिर्त्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो मैत्रावरुणिरन्त्यधी:
taṁ tathā niścitātmānaṁ sa mahātmā mahātapāḥ | ṛṣir brahmavidāṁ śreṣṭho maitrāvaruṇir antyadhīḥ ||
Увидев его таким — с твёрдым решением и владеющим собой, — тот великий духом и великий подвижник, Майтраваруни, первый среди ведающих Брахмана, с тонким и проницательным разумением, подошёл и обратился к нему как подобает.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Steadfast inner resolve and self-mastery are presented as ethically significant virtues, recognized and validated by a foremost sage (a knower of Brahman). The verse links moral firmness with spiritual maturity and authoritative discernment.
The Gandharva describes how a great ascetic sage, Maitrāvaruṇi—renowned for Brahman-knowledge and keen intellect—observes someone who is firmly resolved and self-controlled, setting up the sage’s ensuing response or instruction.