Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 17
Devotion in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa and the Glory of Bhārata-varṣa
Rāmacandra & Nara-Nārāyaṇa; Rivers, Varṇāśrama, and Liberation
एतासामपो भारत्य: प्रजा नामभिरेव पुनन्तीनामात्मना चोपस्पृशन्ति ॥ १७ ॥ चन्द्रवसा ताम्रपर्णी अवटोदा कृतमाला वैहायसी कावेरी वेणी पयस्विनी शर्करावर्ता तुङ्गभद्रा कृष्णा वेण्या भीमरथी गोदावरी निर्विन्ध्या पयोष्णी तापी रेवा सुरसा नर्मदा चर्मण्वती सिन्धुरन्ध: शोणश्च नदौ महानदी वेदस्मृतिऋर्षिकुल्या त्रिसामा कौशिकी मन्दाकिनी यमुना सरस्वती दृषद्वती गोमती सरयू रोधस्वती सप्तवती सुषोमा शतद्रूश्चन्द्रभागा मरुद्वृधा वितस्ता असिक्नी विश्वेति महानद्य: ॥ १८ ॥
etāsām apo bhāratyaḥ prajā nāmabhir eva punantīnām ātmanā copaspṛśanti; candravasā tāmraparṇī avaṭodā kṛtamālā vaihāyasī kāverī veṇī payasvinī śarkarāvartā tuṅgabhadrā kṛṣṇāveṇyā bhīmarathī godāvarī nirvindhyā payoṣṇī tāpī revā surasā narmadā carmaṇvatī sindhur andhaḥ śoṇaś ca nadau mahānadī vedasmṛtir ṛṣikulyā trisāmā kauśikī mandākinī yamunā sarasvatī dṛṣadvatī gomatī sarayū rodhasvatī saptavatī suṣomā śatadrūś candrabhāgā marudvṛdhā vitastā asiknī viśveti mahā-nadyaḥ.
ବ୍ରହ୍ମପୁତ୍ର ଓ ଶୋଣ ନଦ ଅଟନ୍ତି। ଅନ୍ୟ ପ୍ରମୁଖ ନଦୀଗୁଡ଼ିକ ହେଲା: ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରବସା, ତାମ୍ରପର୍ଣ୍ଣୀ, ଅବଟୋଦା, କୃତମାଳା, ବୈହାୟସୀ, କାବେରୀ, ବେଣୀ, ପୟସ୍ୱିନୀ, ଶର୍କରାବର୍ତ୍ତା, ତୁଙ୍ଗଭଦ୍ରା, କୃଷ୍ଣାବେଣ୍ୟା, ଭୀମରଥୀ, ଗୋଦାବରୀ, ନିର୍ବିନ୍ଧ୍ୟା, ପୟୋଷ୍ଣୀ, ତାପୀ, ରେବା, ସୁରସା, ନର୍ମଦା, ଚର୍ମଣ୍ୱତୀ, ମହାନଦୀ, ବେଦସ୍ମୃତି, ଋଷିକୁଲ୍ୟା, ତ୍ରିସାମା, କୌଶିକୀ, ମନ୍ଦାକିନୀ, ଯମୁନା, ସରସ୍ୱତୀ, ଦୃଷଦ୍ୱତୀ, ଗୋମତୀ, ସରଯୂ, ରୋଧସ୍ୱତୀ, ସପ୍ତବତୀ, ସୁଷୋମା, ଶତଦ୍ରୂ, ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଭାଗା, ମରୁଦ୍ୱୃଧା, ବିତସ୍ତା, ଅସିକ୍ନୀ ଓ ବିଶ୍ୱା। ଭାରତବର୍ଷର ଅଧିବାସୀମାନେ ଏହି ନଦୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ମରଣ, ସ୍ପର୍ଶ ଓ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ପବିତ୍ର ହୁଅନ୍ତି।
All these rivers are transcendental. Therefore one can be purified by remembering them, touching them or bathing in them. This practice is still going on.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva explains that the rivers of Bhārata-varṣa are so purifying that even chanting their names cleanses a person, and physical contact with their waters purifies as well.
While describing Bhārata-varṣa and its holy places, Śukadeva teaches Parīkṣit that tīrthas aid purification and devotion—highlighting the sanctity of the land where bhakti is practiced.
Remember and recite the holy names of sacred tīrthas with faith, and cultivate inner purity through devotional practices—using remembrance as a practical form of spiritual connection.