Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa
भद्रा चोत्तरतो मेरुशिरसो निपतिता गिरिशिखराद्गिरिशिखरमतिहाय शृङ्गवत: शृङ्गादवस्यन्दमाना उत्तरांस्तु कुरूनभित उदीच्यां दिशि जलधिमभिप्रविशति ॥ ८ ॥
bhadrā cottarato meru-śiraso nipatitā giri-śikharād giri-śikharam atihāya śṛṅgavataḥ śṛṅgād avasyandamānā uttarāṁs tu kurūn abhita udīcyāṁ diśi jaladhim abhipraviśati.
Cabang Gangga bernama Bhadrā mengalir dari sisi utara Gunung Meru; airnya jatuh berturut-turut ke puncak Gunung Kumuda, Nīla, Śveta dan Śṛṅgavān, kemudian melintasi Uttara-Kuru dan memasuki lautan air masin di utara.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Bhadrā as a river that descends from the northern side of Mount Meru, flows from peak to peak via Śṛṅgavat Mountain, encircles Uttara-kuru, and finally enters the ocean to the north.
He is explaining the cosmic and geographical arrangement of Bhū-maṇḍala (the earthly planetary system) to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, showing how the Lord’s creation is orderly, sacred, and filled with holy features like mountains and rivers.
Even when the details feel vast, the takeaway is reverence: the world is depicted as sacred and purposeful, encouraging humility, gratitude, and remembrance of the Supreme Lord as the ultimate organizer behind creation.