Shloka 35
मित्रावरुणयो: पुत्रस्तथागस्त्य: प्रतापवान् | धर्मराजर्त्विज: सप्त दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिता:
mitrāvaruṇayoḥ putras tathāgastyaḥ pratāpavān | dharmarājartvijaḥ sapta dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āśritāḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—मित्रावरुणयोः पुत्रस्तथागस्त्यः प्रतापवान् । धर्मराजस्य ऋत्विजः सप्त दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिताः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links cosmic order and moral governance (Dharma) with ritual authority: Dharmarāja (Yama), the embodiment of justice, is served by eminent sages as ṛtviks. It underscores that righteousness is upheld through disciplined, sanctified order, symbolized by priestly service and the southern quarter associated with Yama.
Bhīṣma is enumerating or identifying sacred figures connected with Dharmarāja (Yama). Here he states that the powerful sage Agastya—born of Mitra and Varuṇa—is one of seven ṛtviks of Dharmarāja, and that these seven reside in the southern direction.