Shloka 4
अध्याय २०८ — इन्द्रियनिग्रहः, सत्याहिंसात्मकवाक्, कर्मफलविवेकः
Restraint of the Senses, Non-harming Truthful Speech, and Discernment of Karmic Consequence
मरीचिरुत्र्यड्विरसौ पुलस्त्य: पुलह: क्रतु: । वसिष्ठश्न महाभाग: सदृशो वै स्वयम्भुवा,उनके नाम इस प्रकार हैं--मरीचि, अत्रि, अंगिरा, पुलस्त्य, पुलह, क्रतु तथा महाभाग वसिष्ठ। ये सभी स्वयम्भू ब्रह्माके समान ही शक्तिशाली हैं
marīcir atrir aṅgirāḥ pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ | vasiṣṭhaś ca mahābhāgaḥ sadṛśo vai svayambhuvā ||
मरीचिरत्र्यङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । वसिष्ठश्च महाभागः सदृशो वै स्वयम्भुवा ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes the supreme credibility of ancient rishis by stating they are comparable to Svayambhu (Brahma). It implies that ethical and dharmic teachings rooted in such seers carry exceptional authority and should be trusted as aligned with cosmic order.
Bhishma is listing eminent primordial sages—Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasistha—and emphasizing their Brahma-like stature, likely to frame or support subsequent instruction by appealing to revered lineages of wisdom.