An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s6.205
An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s6.205
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- English
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[Jambūkhaṇḍavinirmāṇaparvan (°va)] ("the section relating to the measurement of Jambūkhaṇḍa," the 67th of the minor parvas of Mhbhr.; cf. °vinirmāṇa). § 574: Janamejaya inquired how the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas and Somakas fought on Kurukshetra. Vaiśampāyana began the description of the battle. The Pāṇḍavas occupied the western part, turned towards the east, beyond Samantapañcaka. The force was collected from the whole of Jambūdvīpa. Yudhishṭhira and Duryodhana fixed watchwords. Seeing Duryodhana (description), the Pañcālas were filled with joy, and blew their conches, etc.; Arjuna and Kṛshṇa also blew their conches Devadatta and Pāñcajanya, at which the Kurus were alarmed. Various ill omens were beheld. Both parties settled rules and made covenants regarding the different kinds of combat (VI, 1). Vyāsa visited Dhṛtarāshṭra, and offered to grant him spiritual vision that he might witness the battle. Dhṛtarāshṭra did not like to see the slaughter of his kinsmen. Vyāsa then granted it to Sañjaya, that he might narrate everything to Dhṛtarāshṭra; weapons would not hurt him; he would come out of the battle with life. Vyāsa informed Dhṛtarāshṭra of the omens (a), and appealed to him for peace; but Dhṛtarāshṭra urged the disobedience of his sons. Vyāsa enumerated to Dhṛtarāshṭra the omens that indicate victory, and recommended negotiation, as victory was uncertain (VI, 2, 3). Then Vyāsa departed.
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Seeing the many hundreds of millions of men that had come together at Kurujāṅgala to lay down their very lives for the sake of the earth, Dhṛtarāshṭra inquired of Sañjaya after the attributes of Earth, and the details about the countries and cities from which they had come. Sañjaya discoursed on the merits of the earth, and the various classes of creatures inhabiting it. Their twenty-four constituents are described as Gāyatrī (VI, 4). Dhṛtarāshṭra inquired about the rivers, mountains, and provinces of the earth, and their dimensions. Sañjaya spoke of the five elements and their attributes, earth being the foremost. Then he began the description of the dvīpa of Sudarśana (VI, 5). Sañjaya discoursed on the six mountains (*varshaparvatāḥ*, B.) that extend from the eastern to the western ocean, and are the resort of Si. and Cā.: Himavat, etc. (β), and the varshas between them—Bhārata-varsha, etc. (γ); Malyavat, Gandhamādana; Meru (description); the four islands beside Meru—Bhadrāśva, etc. (δ); the bird Sumukha (δ); on Meru sport D., G., As., Rā., and Aps., and Brahmān, Rudra, and Cakra perform sacrifices; Tumburu, etc. (ε), adore the gods with hymns; the seven Ṛshis and Kaśyapa repair thither on every parvan-day (i.e. the day of full moon and that of new moon); upon the summit is Ućanas with the Daityas; the jewels, etc., come from Meru, one-fourth part being enjoyed by Kubera, who gives only one-sixteenth to men. On the northern side of Meru is a forest of karṇikāras;
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there Paćupati (the creator of all things), together with his celestial attendants and Umā, sports, bearing a chain of karṇikāra flowers reaching down to his feet, and his three eyes resembling three suns; the Siddhas can behold him, but not persons of wicked conduct; from the summit of that mountain Gaṅgā (ε) falls down. On the western side of Meru is Ketumāla (d), and also Jambūkhanda, Gandhamādana (e). The last varsha in the north and Bhārata's varsha in the south are both of the form of a bow. Amongst these seven varshas that which is further north excels the one to its immediate south in respect of longevity, stature, health, righteousness, pleasure, and profit. The huge mountains of Hemakūta are also called Kailāsa, where Vaiçravana (i.e. Kubera) lives in joy with Gh. To the north of Kailāsa and near the mountains of Maināka there is the huge and beautiful mountain Hiranyaçrnga. Beside this the delightful lake Bindusaras (f), with golden sands. Rā. reside on Himavat, etc. (g). The two dvipas Nāgadvipa and Kuçyapadvipa are the two ears of this hare-shaped region; the beautiful mountains of Malaya, having rocks like copper plates, form another part of Jambūdvīpa, making it resemble a hare (VI, 6). Dhrtarāshtra asked Sañjaya about the regions in the north and the east side of Meru, and about the mountains of Mālyavat. Sañjaya told about the Uttarakurus (Uttarah Kuruvah) (g). East of Meru the foremost region is Bhadrāçva (h). The jambū tree (i). Mālyavat (j) (VI, 7).
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Dhrtarāshtra iuquired about the names of all the varshas and mountains. Sañjaya related of Ramanaka, etc. (c). Dhrtarāshtra became absorbed in meditation about his sons; then he said: "Time destroys and creates everything; Nara and Nārāyana, omniscient, destroying all creatures (sarvabhūtabhrt), the gods call him Vaikuntha, men call him Vishnu" (VI, 8). Dhrtarāshtra asked about Bhārata-varsha (k), about which Duryodhana and the Pāndavas are so covetous. Sañjaya said that the Pāndavas were not covetous about it, but Duryodhana, Çakuni, etc.; then he mentioned in Bhārata-varsha, the beloved land of Indra, etc. (aa), inhabited by Aryans and Mlecchas, the mountains—Mahendra, etc. (x); rivers ("all mothers of the universe and productive of great merit")—Gangā, etc. (λ); countries—Dravidah, etc. (v); the tribes of the north—Mlecchah, etc. (ξ); and in the east and the north—Çūdrābhirāh, etc. (o) (VI, 9). Dhrtarāshtra inquired about life, strength, etc., in Bhārata-varsha, and of Haimavata-varsha and Harivarsha. Sañjaya related of the four yugas—Krta, etc. (π). The portion that remains of the Dvāpara age is small. Haimavata-varsha is superior to Bhārata-varsha, and Harivarsha superior to Haimavata-varsha, in every respect (VI, 10).