Shloka 9

मेरोर्दिग्वर्णनम् / Digvarṇana of Meru: Uttara-Kuru, Bhadrāśva, and Jambūdvīpa Motifs

Devanagari script

एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रौक्ममद्धभुतम्‌ । सर्वरत्नमयं चैक॑ भवनैरुपशोभितम्‌

Transliteration

ekaṁ maṇimayaṁ tatra tathaikaṁ raukmam adbhutam | sarvaratnamayaṁ caikaṁ bhavanair upaśobhitam, manujeśvara |

Translation

ਉੱਥੇ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਿਖਰ ਮਣਿਮਯ ਹੈ, ਦੂਜਾ ਅਦਭੁਤ ਸੁਵਰਨਮਯ; ਅਤੇ ਤੀਜਾ ਅਨੇਕ ਮਹਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਤੇ ਸਰਵ-ਰਤਨਮਯ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मणिमयम्: made of gems
• मणिमयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणिमय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एकम्: one (another)
• एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रौक्मम्: golden
• रौक्मम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौक्म
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अद्भुतम्: marvellous/wondrous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वरत्नमयम्: made of all kinds of jewels
• सर्वरत्नमयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वरत्नमय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एकम्: one (a third)
• एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भवनैः: with buildings/mansions
• भवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• उपशोभितम्: adorned/beautified
• उपशोभितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपशोभित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मनुजेश्वर: O lord of men (O king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुजेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• manujeśvara (the king addressed, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• śṛṅgavān parvata (horned mountain)
• three peaks (śikhara)
• gem-peak (maṇimaya)
• golden peak (raukma)
• jewel-peak with mansions (sarvaratnamaya, bhavana-upaśobhita)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily serves descriptive narration rather than direct moral instruction; it underscores the epic’s sense of wonder and the grandeur of the world surrounding the war, reminding a ruler (manujeśvara) that power and splendor are transient backdrops to ethical choices made in the conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king about a remarkable mountain with three distinct peaks—one gem-like, one golden, and one glittering with all jewels and adorned by many mansions—continuing a vivid topographical description within Bhīṣma Parva.