Shloka 34
उन्मुचु:प्रमुचुश्वैव स्वस्त्यात्रेयश्व वीर्यवान् । दृढ्व्यश्वोर्ध्वबाहुश्न तृणसोमाज्निरास्तथा
unmucuḥ pramucuś caiva svastyātreyaś ca vīryavān | dṛḍhavyāś cordhvabāhuś ca tṛṇasomāṅgirās tathā || mitrāvaruṇayoḥ putro mahāpratāpo 'gastyaḥ muniḥ—ete sapta dharmarājasya (yamasya) ṛtvijaḥ dakṣiṇāṃ diśaṃ nivasantīti |
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า—อุนมุจุ ปรมุจุ สวัสตยาตเรยะผู้ทรงเดช ดฤฑวฺยะ อูรธวบาหุ ตฤณโสมางคิระ และมหาฤษีอคัสตยะผู้รุ่งโรจน์ บุตรแห่งมิตรและวรุณะ—ทั้งเจ็ดนี้เป็นฤตวิช (ปุโรหิตประกอบพิธี) ของธรรมราช (ยม) และพำนักอยู่ในทิศใต้
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that Dharma (moral law and justice) is upheld through an ordered, sacred structure: even Yama, the enforcer of karmic consequence, is portrayed with a ritual establishment (ṛtvij-s). This frames justice as not arbitrary power but as a principled, sanctified administration aligned with cosmic order and direction.
Bhishma is listing the seven officiating priests associated with Dharmarāja (Yama) and stating their abode in the southern quarter. The mention of Agastya with his parentage (Mitra–Varuṇa) identifies him among these ritual functionaries, situating revered sages within Yama’s cosmic domain.