Shloka 36
दृढेयुश्न ऋतेयुश्व परिव्याधश्व कीर्तिमान् | एकत्र द्वितश्वैव त्रितश्षादित्यसांनिभा:
dṛḍheyur ṛteyuś ca parivyādhaś ca kīrtimān | ekatra dvitāś caiva tritāś cādityasaṃnibhāḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—दृढेयुश्च ऋतेयुश्च परिव्याधश्च कीर्तिमान् । एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चादित्यसन्निभाः । एते सप्त वरुणस्य ऋत्विजः पश्चिमां दिशमाश्रिताः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sanctity and authority of Vedic ritual lineages: named ṛtviks of Varuṇa are portrayed as sun-radiant, implying purity, discipline, and alignment with ṛta (cosmic order). Ethical force is conveyed indirectly—dharma is upheld through properly ordered sacred offices and qualified officiants.
Bhīṣma is listing and identifying a set of seven priests associated with Varuṇa, describing their fame and brilliance and noting their residence in the western quarter. The passage functions as a catalog within Bhīṣma’s instruction, grounding his discourse in traditional sacred personages.