Shloka 3
Yuga-Lakṣaṇa and Varṣa-Pramāṇa Inquiry (युगलक्षण–वर्षप्रमाण–प्रश्न)
शाल्मलिं चैव तत्त्वेन क्रौज्चद्वीपं तथैव च । ब्रूहि गावल्गणे सर्व राहो: सोमार्कयोस्तथा,गवल्गणकुमार संजय! इसी प्रकार शाल्मलिद्वीप, क्रौंचद्वीप तथा सूर्य, चन्द्रमा एवं राहुसे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाली सब बातोंका यथार्थरूपसे प्रतिपादन करो
śālmalīṁ caiva tattvena krauñcadvīpaṁ tathaiva ca | brūhi gāvalgaṇe sarvaṁ rāhoḥ somārkayostathā ||
And explain to me accurately the Śālmalī continent and likewise the Krauñca continent. O Sañjaya, son of Gāvalgaṇa, tell in full the true account concerning Rāhu and his relation to the Moon and the Sun.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined inquiry and faithful transmission of knowledge: the listener asks for a precise (tattvena) account, emphasizing accuracy and completeness in explaining traditional cosmology and celestial phenomena.
Sañjaya, addressed as Gāvalgaṇa’s son, is requested to describe specific dvīpas (Śālmalī and Krauñca) and to explain the account of Rāhu in relation to the Sun and Moon—setting up a cosmographical and astronomical digression within the parva.