Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 56, Shloka 2
Adhyaya 56 — The Descent and Fourfold Course of the Ganga; Jambudvipa’s Varshas and Their Conditions
सा प्रविश्य सुधायोनिṃ सोममाधारमम्भसाम् ।
ततः सम्बध्यमानार्करश्मिसङ्गतिपावनी ॥
sā praviśya sudhāyoniṃ somamādhāramambhasām /
tataḥ sambadhyamānārkaraśmisaṅgatipāvanī
फिर वह जलों के आधार, अमृत-योनि सोम में प्रविष्ट हुई; और सूर्य-किरणों के स्पर्श तथा संबंध से वह और भी पावन हो गई।
FAQs
Purity is depicted as a cosmic process: the river’s sanctity is reinforced by her association with Soma (nectar) and the Sun (illumination), implying that cleansing involves both cooling nourishment and clarifying radiance.
Sthāna: it situates Gaṅgā within a cosmic hydrology linking lunar and solar principles.
Soma and Arka can be read as inner psycho-spiritual forces (cooling mind-nectar and illuminating discernment). Gaṅgā’s ‘pāvanī’ nature arises when these are harmonized.