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Bhīṣma's Passing Away
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the right path of religion. A priest is meant for guiding the householder progressively in the right path of  āśrama-dharma , or the occupational duty of a particular caste. There is practically no difference between the family priest and the spiritual master. The sages, saints and  brāhmaṇas  were especially meant for such functions.
Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsadeva) . He is known as Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana, Dvaipāyana, Satyavatīsuta, Pārāśarya, Parāśarātmaja, Bādarāyaṇa, Vedavyāsa, etc. He was the son of Mahāmuni Parāśara in the womb of Satyavatī prior to her betrothal with Mahārāja Śantanu, the father of the great general Grandfather Bhīṣmadeva. He is a powerful incarnation of Nārāyaṇa, and he broadcasts the Vedic wisdom to the world. As such, Vyāsadeva is offered respects before chanting the Vedic literature, especially the  Purāṇas . Śukadeva Gosvāmī was his son, and  ṛṣis  like Vaiśampāyana, etc., were his disciples for different branches of the  Vedas . He is the author of the great epic  Mahābhārata  and the great transcendental literature  Bhāgavatam . The  Brahma-sūtras  or the  Vedānta-sūtras  or  Bādarāyaṇa-sūtras  are compiled by him. Amongst sages he is the most respected author by dint of severe penances. When he wanted to record the great epic  Mahābhārata  for the welfare of all people in the age of Kali, he was feeling the necessity of a powerful writer who could take up his dictation. By the order of Brahmājī, Śrī Gaṇeśajī took up the charge of noting down the dictation on the condition that Vyāsadeva would not stop dictation for a moment. The  Mahābhārata  was thus compiled by the joint endeavor of Vyāsa and Gaṇeśa.
By the order of his mother Satyavatī, who was later married to Mahārāja Śantanu, and by the request of Bhīṣmadeva, the eldest son of Mahārāja Śantanu by his first wife, the Ganges, he begot three brilliant sons whose names are Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu and Vidura. The  Mahābhārata  was compiled by Vyāsadeva after the Battle of Kurukṣetra and after the death of all the heroes of  Mahābhārata . It was first spoken in the royal assembly of Mahārāja Janamejaya, the son of Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Bṛhadaśva . An ancient sage who used to meet Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira now and then. First of all he met Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira at Kamyavana. This sage narrated the history of Mahārāja Nala. There is another Bṛhadaśva who is the son of the Ikṣvaku dynasty ( Mahā . Van. 209.4-5).
Bharadvāja . He is one of the seven great  ṛṣis  and was present at the time of the birth ceremony of Arjuna. The powerful  ṛṣi  sometimes undertook severe penances on the shore of the Ganges, and his  āśrama  is still celebrated at Prayāgadhāma. It is learned that this  ṛṣi , while taking bath in the Ganges, happened to meet Ghṛtacī, one of the beautiful society girls