Shloka 4.61.8
सूर्यानुगमनवृत्तान्तः — The Account of Following the Sun
उपलैरिव सञ्छन्ना दृश्यते भूश्शिलोच्चयैः।आपगाभिश्च संवीता सूत्रैरिव वसुन्धरा।।।।
upalair iva sañchannā dṛśyate bhūḥ śiloccayaiḥ |
āpagābhiś ca saṃvītā sūtrair iva vasundharā ||
The earth appeared as though strewn with pebbles—its lofty mountains; and the land, wrapped about by rivers, looked as if it were laced with threads.
'The earth filled with lofty mountains appeared as if it is covered with pebbles. Surrounded by rivers meandering, it looked as though it was entwined with threads.
The verse encourages a dharmic ‘wide view’: seeing the world as an ordered whole, not merely as isolated possessions—supporting restraint and balance.
From great height, Sampāti describes the earth’s features through similes: mountains as pebbles and rivers as threads.
Clarity of observation and expressive truthfulness—communicating experience accurately through vivid, disciplined imagery.