Shloka 52

Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment

Devanagari script

स्रोतोभि: सप्तभिर्या वै स्वर्धुनी सप्तधा व्यधात् । सप्तानां प्रीतये नाना सप्तस्रोत: प्रचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

srotobhiḥ saptabhir yā vai svardhunī saptadhā vyadhāt saptānāṁ prītaye nānā sapta-srotaḥ pracakṣate

Translation

يُسمّى ذلك الموضع «سبتسروت» لأن مياه الغانغا المقدّسة انقسمت هناك إلى سبعة مجارٍ، وقد فُعل ذلك لإرضاء الحكماء العظام السبعة.

Synonyms

स्रोतोभिःwith streams

सप्तभिःwith seven

याwhich (river)

वैindeed

स्वर्धुनीthe celestial river (Gaṅgā)

सप्तधाsevenfold

व्यधात्distributed/arranged

सप्तानाम्of the seven (sages)

प्रीतयेfor the pleasure

नानाvariously

सप्तस्रोतः(as) ‘seven-streamed’

प्रचक्षतेthey call/describe

Characters & Entities

Gaṅgā

Saptarṣi (the seven sages)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Ganga having seven streams (Saptasrota)?

This verse explains that the heavenly river Gaṅgā is described as divided into seven currents, and because this arrangement pleased the seven sages, she is celebrated as Saptasrotaḥ—‘seven-streamed.’

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 1.13.52 and to whom?

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī speaks this narration to the sages assembled at Naimiṣāraṇya, describing sacred details connected with the broader account in Canto 1, Chapter 13.

How can devotees apply the teaching of sacred rivers like Gaṅgā in modern life?

The verse highlights reverence for tīrthas and saintly persons—practically, one can cultivate purity through devotion, respectful remembrance of sacred places, and seeking the blessings of sādhus rather than treating spirituality as merely external ritual.