PURPORT

The Rishis are those who have had attained perfection of human life by spiritual achievements. Such spiritual achievements could be earned by all, never mind if one is a king or a mendicant. Bhismadeva himself was also one of the Brahmarsis and the chief of the descendants of the king Bharata. All such Rishis are situated on quality of goodness and as such all of them assembled there on hearing the news of lying down of the great warrior.