Shloka 16
तमध्वरे शंसितार: स्तुवन्ति रथन्तरे सामगाश्र स्तुवन्ति । त॑ ब्राह्मणा ब्रद्ममन्त्रै: स्तुवन्ति तस्मै हविरध्वर्यव: कल्पयन्ति
tam adhvare śaṁsitāraḥ stuvanti rathantare sāmagāś ca stuvanti | taṁ brāhmaṇā brahmamantraiḥ stuvanti tasmai havir adhvaryavaḥ kalpayanti ||
तमध्वरे शंसितारः स्तुवन्ति रथन्तरे सामगाश्च स्तुवन्ति। तं ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्ममन्त्रैः स्तुवन्ति तस्मै हविरध्वर्यवः कल्पयन्ति॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme is the central recipient and meaning of Vedic sacrifice: every class of priest—reciters, Sāman-chanters, mantra-knowing Brahmins, and the Adhvaryu who handles offerings—directs praise and oblations to Him, showing ritual as coordinated devotion grounded in dharma.
Bhishma is describing how, within a properly conducted yajña, different officiants perform their specialized roles—recitation, chanting, mantra-praise, and allotting oblations—yet all these actions converge on honoring the same divine object of worship.