Shloka 63
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
मन्दारपुष्पै: संकीर्णा तथा मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् | स्वयंप्रभाश्चव मणयो वजैर्भूमिश्व भूषिता,उस प्रदेशमें मन्दाकिनी नदी प्रवाहित होती थी, जिसके स्रोतमें मन्दारके पुष्प बह रहे थे। वहाँ स्वयं प्रकाशित होनेवाली मणियाँ अपनी अद्भुत छटा बिखेर रही थीं। वहाँकी भूमि हीरोंसे जड़ी गयी थी
mandārapuṣpaiḥ saṅkīrṇā tathā mandākinīṃ nadīm | svayaṃprabhāś caiva maṇayo vajrair bhūmiś ca bhūṣitā ||
Bhishma berkata: Di wilayah itu mengalir sungai Mandākinī, airnya bertaburan bunga mandāra yang gugur. Di sana, permata yang bercahaya sendiri memancarkan sinar yang menakjubkan, dan bahkan tanahnya pun dihiasi dengan berlian.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily evokes a sacred, otherworldly landscape—suggesting that proximity to holy regions is marked by purity, auspicious beauty, and divine radiance, which in the Mahābhārata often frames or supports discussions of dharma and meritorious conduct.
Bhīṣma is describing a particular region where the Mandākinī river flows, filled with mandāra blossoms; the area shines with naturally radiant gems, and the ground itself is said to be adorned with diamonds—an idealized, celestial-like setting.