Shloka 31
विन्ध्यो धातुविचित्राड्रस्तीर्थवानौषधान्वित: । मेरुम॑हेन्द्रो मलय: श्वेतश्न॒ रजतावृत:
bhīṣma uvāca |
vindhyo dhātuvicitrāḍras tīrthavān auṣadhānvitāḥ |
merur mahendro malayaḥ śvetaś ca rajatāvṛtaḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଧାତୁରେ ବିଚିତ୍ର ଭାବେ ଶୋଭିତ ବିନ୍ଧ୍ୟ ପର୍ବତ—ତୀର୍ଥସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଓ ଔଷଧିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ; ଏବଂ ମେରୁ, ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ର, ମଲୟ, ରଜତାବୃତ ଶ୍ୱେତ ପର୍ବତ—ଏ ସମସ୍ତେ ଆମକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ। ଏଠାରେ ପର୍ବତ ଓ ତୀର୍ଥମାନଙ୍କୁ ଧର୍ମର ସ୍ଥିର ଆଧାର ଭାବେ ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଯାଇଛି, ଯେପରି ସେଇ ସ୍ମରଣ ହିଁ କବଚ ହୋଇଯାଉ।
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.