Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 36
दृढेयुश्न ऋतेयुश्व परिव्याधश्व कीर्तिमान् | एकत्र द्वितश्वैव त्रितश्षादित्यसांनिभा:
dṛḍheyur ṛteyuś ca parivyādhaś ca kīrtimān | ekatra dvitāś caiva tritāś cādityasaṃnibhāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Sina Dṛḍheyu, Ṛteyu, at ang bantog na Parivyādha—kasama sina Ekatrā, Dvitā, at Tritā na nagniningning na gaya ng araw—ang pitong ṛtvij (mga paring tagapagpatupad ng handog) ni Varuṇa, na nananahan sa dakong kanluran.
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.