Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.9.5

tatra brahmarṣayaḥ sarve

devarṣayaś ca sattama

rājarṣayaś ca tatrāsan

draṣṭuḿ bharata-puńgavam

SYNONYMS

tatra — there; brahma-ṛṣayaḥ — ṛṣis among the brāhmaṇas; sarve — all; deva-ṛṣayaḥ — ṛṣis among the demigods; ca — and; sattama — situated in the quality of goodness; rāja-ṛṣayaḥ — ṛṣis among the kings; ca — and; tatra — in that place; āsan — were present; draṣṭum — just to see; bharata — the descendants of King Bharata; puńgavam — the chief of.

TRANSLATION

Just to see the chief of the descendants of King Bharata [Bhīṣma], all the great souls in the universe, namely the ṛṣis amongst the demigods, brāhmaṇas and kings, all situated in the quality of goodness, were assembled there.

PURPORT

The ṛṣis are those who have attained perfection by spiritual achievements. Such spiritual achievements can be earned by all, whether one is a king or a mendicant. Bhīṣmadeva himself was also one of the brahmarṣis and the chief of the descendants of King Bharata. All ṛṣis are situated in the quality of goodness. All of them assembled there on hearing the news of the great warrior's impending death.