Shloka 31
Śākadvīpa–Pramāṇa–Varṇana
Measurements and Description of Śākadvīpa
भोजन चात्र कौरव्य प्रजा: स्वयमुपस्थितम् | सिद्धमेव महाबाहो तद्धि भुञ्जन्ति नित्यदा,महाबाहु कुरुनन्दन! यहाँकी प्रजाओंके पास सदा पका-पकाया भोजन स्वयं उपस्थित हो जाता है और उसीको खाकर वे लोग रहते हैं
bhojanaṃ cātra kauravya prajāḥ svayam upasthitam | siddham eva mahābāho tad dhi bhuñjanti nityadā ||
Wahai Kauravya yang berlengan perkasa, di negeri ini makanan bagi rakyat hadir dengan sendirinya—selalu sudah masak dan siap santap. Dengan menyantap hidangan yang telah tersedia itu, mereka menjalani hari demi hari.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ideal condition of governance and cosmic order where the populace’s basic needs—especially food—are effortlessly fulfilled. Ethically, it implies that a well-ordered realm (aligned with dharma) is marked by security and abundance, making war’s disruption of such welfare morally weighty.
Sañjaya is describing to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as ‘Kauravya’) a region/people characterized by continual, ready availability of cooked food. It functions as a descriptive aside within the larger Bhīṣma-parvan narration, emphasizing prosperity and ease of living.