Shloka 50
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
मधुच्छन्दश्व भगवान् देवरातश्न वीर्यवान् | अक्षीणश्न शकुन्तश्न बश्रु: कालपथस्तथा
bhīṣma uvāca | madhucchandaś ca bhagavān devarātaś ca vīryavān | akṣīṇaś ca śakuntaś ca babhruḥ kālapathas tathā | viśvāmitrātmajāḥ sarve munayo brahmavādinaḥ |
భగవాన్ మధుచ్ఛంద, వీర్యవంతుడైన దేవరాత, అక్షీణ, శకుంత, బభ్రు, కాలపథ—ఇవన్నీ విశ్వామిత్రుని కుమారులైన మునులు; బ్రహ్మవాదులే.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the spiritual authority of a recognized rishi-lineage: those who are 'brahmavādins' (teachers of Brahman/Vedic truth) lend weight to dharmic instruction. By naming them, Bhishma signals that ethical guidance should be grounded in trustworthy tradition and realized knowledge.
In Anushasana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma is enumerating revered sages—identified as sons of Vishvamitra—characterizing them as brahmavādins. This functions as an appeal to authoritative exemplars while continuing his discourse on dharma.