Shloka 7

ससागर: सगगन: सशैल: सबलाहकः: । सभूमि: साग्निपवनो लोको<यं केन निर्मित:,“समुद्र, आकाश, पर्वत, मेघ, भूमि, अग्नि और वायुसहित इस संसारका किसने निर्माण किया है?

sa-sāgaraḥ sa-gaganaḥ sa-śailaḥ sa-balāhakaḥ | sa-bhūmiḥ sa-agni-pavano loko 'yaṃ kena nirmitaḥ ||

Bhīṣma said: “This world—together with the ocean, the sky, the mountains, the clouds, the earth, and with fire and wind—by whom has it been created?”

ससागरःhaving the ocean (i.e., with oceans)
ससागरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootससागर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सगगनःhaving the sky
सगगनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसगगन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सशैलःhaving mountains
सशैलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसशैल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सबलाहकःhaving clouds
सबलाहकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसबलाहक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सभूमिःhaving the earth/land
सभूमिः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसभूमि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
साग्निपवनःhaving fire and wind
साग्निपवनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस-अग्नि-पवन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
लोकःworld
लोकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अयम्this
अयम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
केनby whom? / by what?
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
निर्मितःmade/created
निर्मितः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनिर्मा (नि + √मा)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
O
ocean (sāgara)
S
sky (gagana)
M
mountains (śaila)
C
clouds (balāhaka)
E
earth (bhūmi)
F
fire (agni)
W
wind (pavana)
W
world (loka)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames a philosophical inquiry into the ultimate cause behind the cosmos. By listing major constituents of the world (sea, sky, mountains, clouds, earth, fire, wind), it prompts reflection on whether creation is attributable to a supreme maker, an impersonal principle, or causal law—setting up a dharmic-metaphysical discussion about first cause and cosmic order.

In Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma poses a foundational question about the origin of the world. This functions as a transition into deeper teaching: before prescribing conduct and duties, the discourse probes the nature of reality and its source, grounding ethics in an understanding of cosmic order.