Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 17
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
तेषां विशीर्यमाणानामतिमधुरसुरभिसुगन्धि बहुलारुणरसोदेनारुणोदा नाम नदी मन्दरगिरिशिखरान्निपतन्ती पूर्वेणेलावृतमुपप्लावयति ॥ १७ ॥
teṣāṁ viśīryamāṇānām ati-madhura-surabhi-sugandhi-bahulāruṇa-rasodenāruṇodā nāma nadī mandara-giri-śikharān nipatantī pūrveṇelāvṛtam upaplāvayati.
इतक्या उंचावरून पडल्याने ती फळे फुटतात. त्यांच्या आतला अतिमधुर, सुगंधी, गडद अरुण रस बाहेर वाहतो व इतर सुवासांशी मिसळून अधिकच सुगंधित होतो. तो रस मंदरशिखरावरून धबधब्यांसारखा कोसळून ‘अरुणोदा’ नावाची नदी बनतो आणि इलावृताच्या पूर्व भागातून रम्यपणे वाहतो.
FAQs
In Canto 5, Chapter 16, Śukadeva describes Aruṇodā as a river formed from abundant, sweet, fragrant, reddish juice flowing down from Mandara Mountain, inundating Ilāvṛta-varṣa on the eastern side.
He is explaining the sacred cosmography of Jambūdvīpa to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, presenting the universe as a divinely ordered creation meant to inspire remembrance of the Supreme Lord.
Treat these descriptions as aids for śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance): they cultivate reverence for the Lord’s creation and deepen faith that all realms ultimately exist under His governance.