Shloka 7
सत्य–अनृत, प्रकाश–तमस्, स्वर्ग–नरक विवेचनम्
Truth and Untruth as Light and Darkness; Svarga and Naraka as Ethical Consequences
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 ||
ભીષ્મે કહ્યું—“સમુદ્ર, આકાશ, પર્વતો, મેઘો, ભૂમિ તથા અગ્નિ અને વાયુ સહિત આ લોક કોને રચ્યો છે?”
भीष्म उवाच
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.