Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 24

Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise

Devanagari script

नन्दा चालकनन्दा च सरितौ बाह्यत: पुर: । तीर्थपादपदाम्भोजरजसातीव पावने ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

nandā cālakanandā ca saritau bāhyataḥ puraḥ tīrthapāda-padāmbhoja- rajasātīva pāvane

Translation

Ils virent aussi les deux rivières nommées Nandā et Alakanandā, coulant à l’extérieur de la cité. Elles sont hautement purifiantes, sanctifiées par la poussière des pieds de lotus de Śrī Govinda, le Seigneur Suprême.

Synonyms

• nandā: Nandā (river)
• nandā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; नदी/सरित्-नाम (proper name)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• ālakanandā: Ālakanandā (river)
• ālakanandā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ālaka (प्रातिपदिक) + nandā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive: ‘Nandā of Alakā/Alakā-related Nandā’)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• saritau: two rivers
• saritau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual)

• bāhyataḥ: on the outside
• bāhyataḥ: Adhikaraṇa/Deśa (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāhyataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: from outside/outwardly)

• puraḥ: in front
• puraḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puraḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front/before)

• tīrtha-pāda-padāmbhoja-rajasā: by the dust of the lotus-feet of the holy Lord
• tīrtha-pāda-padāmbhoja-rajasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + padāmbhoja (पद+अम्भोज; प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (रजस् नपुंसक), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative: ‘by the pollen/dust of the lotus-feet of the Tīrthapāda’)

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (very/exceedingly)

• pāvane: purifying
• pāvane: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with सरितौ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the purification power of holy rivers?

This verse says rivers like Nandā and Cālakanandā are supremely purifying because they are connected to the Lord—sanctified by the dust of His lotus feet, the source of all tīrthas.

Who is called Tīrtha-pāda in the Bhagavatam, and why?

Tīrtha-pāda refers to the Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu), because all holy places derive their sanctity from Him; contact with His lotus feet makes a place or river spiritually purifying.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Seek purification by connecting actions and places to devotion—remembering the Lord, honoring sacred spaces with humility, and valuing bhakti as the real source of inner cleansing.