दृढेयुश्न ऋतेयुश्व परिव्याधश्व कीर्तिमान् | एकत्र द्वितश्वैव त्रितश्षादित्यसांनिभा:
dṛḍheyur ṛteyuś ca parivyādhaś ca kīrtimān | ekatra dvitāś caiva tritāś cādityasaṃnibhāḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—دِڑھےیُو، رِتےیُو اور نامور پریویادھ؛ نیز ایکت، دْوِت اور تْرِت جو آفتاب کی مانند درخشاں ہیں—یہ ساتوں وَرُن کے رِتوِج ہیں اور مغربی سمت میں رہتے ہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
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.