Shloka 14
Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman
मेरोह॑रिश्व द्वे वर्षे वर्ष हैमवतं तत: । क्रमेणैवं व्यतिक्रम्प भारतं वर्षमासदत्
merohariśva dve varṣe varṣa haimavataṁ tataḥ | krameṇaivaṁ vyatikramp bhārataṁ varṣam āsadat ||
Bhishma said: “From there, crossing in due order the regions called Meru (Ilāvṛta), Hari-varṣa, and then the snowy Haimavata (Kimpuruṣa) country, they at last reached Bhārata-varṣa. On the way they had to pass many mountains, rivers, sacred fords, and lakes; they also traversed forests teeming with serpents and wild beasts. Having surmounted all these obstacles step by step, they arrived in the land of Bhārata.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights disciplined progress (krameṇa) and endurance: reaching the human realm of Bhārata—where dharma is practiced through effort—requires crossing hardships and dangers. It frames spiritual and ethical life as a journey demanding steadiness and courage.
Bhīṣma describes travelers moving through successive mythic regions—Meru/Ilāvṛta, Hari-varṣa, and Haimavata (linked with Kimpuruṣa)—crossing mountains, rivers, tīrthas, lakes, and perilous forests filled with serpents and wild beasts, until they finally reach Bhārata-varṣa.