Shloka 1
Chapter 7: Dvīpa–Varṣa–Meru-varṇana
Description of the Dvīpa, Varṣas, and Mount Meru
[दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ह श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५६ ६ “लोक हैं।] न#फमशा रत (0) अमन न सप्तमो<ध्याय: उत्तर कुरु, भद्राश्चववर्ष तथा माल्यवानका वर्णन धृतराष्ट उवाच मेरोरथोत्तरं पार्श्व पूर्व चाचक्ष्वय संजय । निखिलेन महाबुद्धे माल्यवन्तं च पर्वतम्,धृतराष्ट्रने कहा--परमबुद्धिमान् संजय! तुम मेरुके उत्तर तथा पूर्वभागमें जो कुछ है, उसका पूर्ण रूपसे वर्णन करो। साथ ही माल्यवान् पर्वतके विषयमें भी जाननेयोग्य बातें बताओ
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | meror athottaraṃ pārśvaṃ pūrvaṃ cācakṣva me sañjaya | nikhilena mahābuddhe mālyavantaṃ ca parvatam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Sañjaya, O man of great intelligence, describe to me in full what lies to the north of Mount Meru and also its eastern region. And tell me as well, completely, about the mountain called Mālyavān.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined inquiry: a ruler seeks a complete, orderly account from a trusted narrator. Ethically, it highlights the value of careful listening and comprehensive understanding before forming judgments.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra prompts Sañjaya to continue a detailed description of the world’s regions—specifically the northern and eastern areas of Mount Meru—and to explain the mountain Mālyavān, setting up a cosmographic/geographical passage within Bhīṣma Parva.