Shloka 1

Chapter 7: Dvīpa–Varṣa–Meru-varṇana

Description of the Dvīpa, Varṣas, and Mount Meru

Devanagari script

[दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ह श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५६ ६ “लोक हैं।] न#फमशा रत (0) अमन न सप्तमो<ध्याय: उत्तर कुरु

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | meror athottaraṃ pārśvaṃ pūrvaṃ cācakṣva me sañjaya | nikhilena mahābuddhe mālyavantaṃ ca parvatam ||

Translation

持国王说道：“三阇耶，汝具大慧，当为我详尽叙述须弥山之北方以及其东方之境的一切；并且也请完整讲述那座名为‘摩利耶梵’的山。”

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मेरोः: of Meru
• मेरोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• उत्तरम्: the northern (part/side)
• उत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पार्श्वम्: side/flank
• पार्श्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूर्वम्: the eastern (part/side)
• पूर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• आचक्ष्व: tell/describe
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्ष्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• संजय: O Sanjaya
• संजय: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• निखिलेन: completely/in full
• निखिलेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महाबुद्धे: O great-minded one
• महाबुद्धे: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबुद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• माल्यवन्तम्: Malyavat (named)
• माल्यवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माल्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• पर्वतम्: mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sañjaya
• Mount Meru
• Mālyavān mountain

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models disciplined inquiry: a ruler seeks a complete, orderly account from a trusted narrator. Ethically, it highlights the value of careful listening and comprehensive understanding before forming judgments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra prompts Sañjaya to continue a detailed description of the world’s regions—specifically the northern and eastern areas of Mount Meru—and to explain the mountain Mālyavān, setting up a cosmographic/geographical passage within Bhīṣma Parva.