Adhyaya 57 — The Ninefold Divisions of Bharata: Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples
दक्षिणापरतो ह्यस्य पूर्वेण च महोदधिः । हिमवानुत्तरेणास्य कार्मुकस्य यथा गुणः ॥
dakṣiṇāparato hy asya pūrveṇa ca mahodadhiḥ | himavān uttareṇāsya kārmukasya yathā guṇaḥ ||
ഇതിന്റ ദക്ഷിണത്തും പടിഞ്ഞാറും സമുദ്രം; കിഴക്കിലും മഹാസമുദ്രം; വടക്കിൽ ഹിമവാൻ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു—വില്ലിന്റെ വളഞ്ഞ നാരുപോലെ രൂപം നിർണ്ണയിക്കുന്നവണ്ണം.
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Sacred geography is not merely cartographic: boundaries (ocean and Himavān) frame a distinct karmic arena where dharma can be pursued.
Cosmography (bhūvanakośa) that supports Purāṇic world-description, often accompanying sarga/pratisarga expositions.
The ‘bow’ simile suggests Bhārata as a tensioned field—like a bow held ready—where effort (puruṣakāra) and discipline are demanded for spiritual ‘aim’ and attainment.