तत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सर्वे देवर्षयश्च सत्तम ।
राजर्षयश्च तत्रासन् द्रष्टुं भरतपुङ्गवम् ॥ ५ ॥
tatra-there; brahma-rsayah-rsis among the brahmanas; sarve-all; deva-rsayah-rsis among the demigods; ca-and; sattama-situated in the quality of goodness; raja-rsayah-rsis among the kings; ca-and; tatra-in that place; asan-were present; drastum-just to see; bharata-descendant of King Bharata; puṅgavam-and the chief of them.
Just to see the chief of the descendants of King Bharata [Bhisma], all the great souls in the universe, namely the rsis amongst the demigods, brahmanas and kings, all situated in the quality of goodness, were assembled there.
The rsis 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. Bhismadeva himself was also one of the brahmarsis and the chief of the descendants of King Bharata. All rsis are situated in the quality of goodness. All of them assembled there on hearing the news of the great warrior's impending death.
