Shloka 31
विन्ध्यो धातुविचित्राड्रस्तीर्थवानौषधान्वित: । मेरुम॑हेन्द्रो मलय: श्वेतश्न॒ रजतावृत:
bhīṣma uvāca |
vindhyo dhātuvicitrāḍras tīrthavān auṣadhānvitāḥ |
merur mahendro malayaḥ śvetaś ca rajatāvṛtaḥ ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—विविध धातूंनी नटलेला विन्ध्य पर्वत—तीर्थसमृद्ध व औषधींनी युक्त; तसेच मेरु, महेन्द्र, मलय आणि रजताने आच्छादित श्वेत पर्वत—हे सर्व आम्हांला रक्षित राहोत। येथे पर्वत व तीर्थ यांना धर्माचा स्थिर आधार मानून स्मरण केले आहे, जेणेकरून ते स्मरणच कवच ठरो।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse treats sacred geography as morally efficacious: mountains bearing tīrthas and healing herbs symbolize the sustaining order of the world. Remembering and invoking such sanctified supports is presented as a means of protection—aligning oneself with dharma and the auspicious powers embedded in creation.
Bhishma is reciting a protective invocation (a remembrance-list) in which revered natural and cosmic landmarks are named. Here he specifically calls upon major mountains—Vindhya, Meru, Mahendra, Malaya, and the silver-clad white mountain—to act as guardians.