Shloka 9

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

तापी पयोष्णी सरयूः कावेरी गोमती तथा / गोदावरी भीमरथी कृष्णवेणी महानदी

Transliteration

tāpī payoṣṇī sarayūḥ kāverī gomatī tathā / godāvarī bhīmarathī kṛṣṇaveṇī mahānadī

Translation

The rivers Tāpi, Payoṣṇī, Sarayū, Kāverī, and also Gomatī; Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, Kṛṣṇaveṇī, and Mahānadī are likewise named.

Word by Word

• तापी: Tāpī (river)
• तापी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पयोष्णी: Payoṣṇī (river)
• पयोष्णी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयोष्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सरयूः: Sarayū (river)
• सरयूः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कावेरी: Kāverī (river)
• कावेरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कावेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गोमती: Gomatī (river)
• गोमती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• गोदावरी: Godāvarī (river)
• गोदावरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोदा + वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—गोदा-नाम्न्याः वरी/नदी (नामसमास/तत्पुरुष)

• भीमरथी: Bhīmarathī (river)
• भीमरथी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + रथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—भीमा रथी इव/भीमस्य रथी (नामसमास; प्रायः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोग)

• कृष्णवेणी: Kṛṣṇaveṇī (river)
• कृष्णवेणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + वेणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कृष्णा वेणी (कर्मधारय)

• महानदी: Mahānadī (river)
• महानदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महती नदी (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred rivers as instruments of pāpa-kṣaya and puṇya-saṅgraha through snāna, dāna, and smaraṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi (purification) as an aid to sādhana; the world as a field of sacred supports (ālambana) for inner transformation.

Application: Recite as tīrtha-smaraṇa; undertake ethical pilgrimage (non-harm, cleanliness) and support river health as a spiritual duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: rivers

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (nadī catalog continues)

Characters & Entities

• Tapi
• Payoshni
• Sarayu
• Kaveri
• Gomati
• Godavari
• Bhimarathi
• Krishnaveni
• Mahanadi

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred rivers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse enumerates revered rivers, implying their tirtha-status—places associated with purification and merit (puṇya) through bathing, offerings, and remembrance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting tirthas (holy rivers) as supports for dharma and merit, it points to how righteous acts performed in life are said to aid the soul’s post-death condition described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma through regular acts of purity and charity—such as respectful river conservation, ritual bathing where appropriate, and donating in the spirit of tirtha-traditions.