Shloka 26

Devanagari script

भूमिभागास्तथा पुण्या गड्जाद्वारमथापि च । ऋषिकुल्यास्तथा मेध्या नद्य: सिंधुवहास्तथा

Transliteration

bhūmibhāgās tathā puṇyā gaṅgādvāram athāpi ca | ṛṣikulyās tathā medhyā nadyaḥ sindhuvahās tathā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Sacred are certain tracts of the earth; sacred too is Gaṅgādvāra (the gateway of the Ganges), and likewise Ṛṣikulyā. Pure and sanctifying are the rivers that flow toward the Sindhu (the sea/Indus).”

Word by Word

• भूमिभागाः: parts/regions of the earth
• भूमिभागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• पुण्याः: holy/meritorious
• पुण्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गङ्गाद्वारम्: Ganga-gate (Haridwar)
• गङ्गाद्वारम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गाद्वार
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

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

• ऋषिकुल्याः: the river(s) named Ṛṣikulyā
• ऋषिकुल्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषिकुल्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• मेध्याः: pure/fit for sacrifice
• मेध्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सिन्धुवहाः: flowing to the sea (lit. sea-carrying)
• सिन्धुवहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिन्धुवह
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Bhūmibhāga (sacred regions of the earth)
• Gaṅgādvāra (Haridwar)
• Ṛṣikulyā (river)
• Nadyaḥ (rivers)
• Sindhu (Indus/sea)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Recollection and reverence of sacred lands and rivers is presented as a dharmic practice that purifies the mind and aligns one with auspiciousness; holiness is linked to ethical self-cultivation (humility, restraint, and faith) rather than mere geography.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is enumerating holy regions and tīrthas as part of a broader litany/invocation. The verse highlights specific sacred sites (Gaṅgādvāra, Ṛṣikulyā) and sanctifying rivers, contributing to a protective and merit-generating remembrance.