Shloka 22
सत्य–अनृत, प्रकाश–तमस्, स्वर्ग–नरक विवेचनम्
Truth and Untruth as Light and Darkness; Svarga and Naraka as Ethical Consequences
भरद्वाज उवाच गगनस्य दिशां चैव भूतलस्यानिलस्य वा । कान्यत्र परिमाणानि संशयं छिन्धि तत्त्वतः,भरद्वाजने पूछा--प्रभो! आकाश, दिशा, पृथ्वी और वायुका कितना-कितना परिमाण है? यह ठीक-ठीक बताकर मेरा संशय दूर कीजिये
bharadvāja uvāca | gaganasya diśāṃ caiva bhūtalasyānilasya vā | kāny atra parimāṇāni saṃśayaṃ chindhi tattvataḥ ||
ഭരദ്വാജൻ പറഞ്ഞു—പ്രഭോ! ആകാശം, ദിക്കുകൾ, ഭൂതലം, വായു—ഇവയുടെ യഥാർത്ഥ പരിമാണങ്ങൾ എത്ര? തത്ത്വമായി പറഞ്ഞു എന്റെ സംശയം നീക്കുക.
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined inquiry: a seeker asks for knowledge “tattvataḥ” (as it truly is) and requests that doubt be cut through by clear reasoning and accurate description, emphasizing truth-oriented learning as part of dharma.
In a didactic dialogue within Śānti Parva, the sage Bharadvāja asks an authority to explain the true extent (parimāṇa) of fundamental cosmic elements—space, the directions, the earth, and wind—so that his uncertainty may be resolved.