Shloka 293
अध्याय २०८ — इन्द्रियनिग्रहः, सत्याहिंसात्मकवाक्, कर्मफलविवेकः
Restraint of the Senses, Non-harming Truthful Speech, and Discernment of Karmic Consequence
एते ब्रह्मर्षयो नित्यमास्थिता दक्षिणां दिशम् उन्मुच
ete brahmarṣayo nityam āsthitā dakṣiṇāṁ diśam—unmuca, vimuca, balavān, svastyātreya, pramuca, idhmavāha, dṛḍhatāpūrvakaṁ uttama-vrata-pālanakārī mitrāvaruṇayoḥ pratāpī putro bhagavān agastya—ete brahmarṣayaḥ sadā dakṣiṇa-diśi vasanti.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang mga Brahmarṣi na ito ay laging nananahan sa timog—sina Unmucha, Vimucha, ang makapangyarihang Balavān, Svastyātreya, Pramucha, Idhmavāha, at Dṛḍhatāpūrvaka; at gayundin ang bantog na pantas na si Agastya, ang makapangyarihang anak nina Mitra at Varuṇa, na matatag sa pagsunod sa pinakadakilang mga panata. Ang mga Brahmarṣi na ito ay palaging nasa timog.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical authority of great seers: their power is grounded in steadfast austerity and faithful observance of vows (vrata). It also frames dharma as supported by exemplary lives and disciplined conduct, not merely by theory.
In Bhishma’s instruction, a catalogue of Brahmarishis is given, locating them in the southern quarter. Agastya is singled out with his lineage (son of Mitra and Varuṇa) and his strict vow-observance, reinforcing the sanctity and spiritual prominence of the southern region.