Shloka 2

Adhyaya 56 — The Descent and Fourfold Course of the Ganga; Jambudvipa’s Varshas and Their Conditions

Sanskrit

सा प्रविश्य सुधायोनिṃ सोममाधारमम्भसाम् ।

ततः सम्बध्यमानार्करश्मिसङ्गतिपावनी ॥

Transliteration

sā praviśya sudhāyoniṃ somamādhāramambhasām /

tataḥ sambadhyamānārkaraśmisaṅgatipāvanī

Translation

ତାପରେ ସେ ଅମୃତର ଉତ୍ସ ସୋମରେ—ଜଳମାନଙ୍କ ଆଧାରଭୂତରେ—ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲେ; ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟକିରଣର ସ୍ପର୍ଶ ଓ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧରୁ ସେ ଅଧିକ ପାବନୀ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya-prayoga (indeclinable usage)

• sudhāyonim: the source of nectar
• sudhāyonim: Karma (कर्म/Object; entered-into)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhā-yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); samāsa: sudhā (nectar) + yoni (source)

• somam: Soma (the Moon/nectar)
• somam: Karma (कर्म/Object; in apposition/qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ādhāram: support/receptacle
• ādhāram: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ambhasām: of the waters
• ambhasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• tataḥ: thereafter/from there
• tataḥ: Apādāna-artha (अपादानार्थ/Source-sense adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय); ‘thereafter/from there’

• sambadhyamānā: being connected/joined
• sambadhyamānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-bandh (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Śatṛ/Śānac (Present passive participle/शानच्), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); karmaṇi-prayoga sense ‘being connected’

• arka-raśmi-saṅgati-pāvanī: purifying through contact with the sun’s rays
• arka-raśmi-saṅgati-pāvanī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arka-raśmi-saṅgati-pāvanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); samāsa chain: arka (sun) + raśmi (ray) + saṅgati (contact/association) + pāvanī (purifying)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration)

Primary Deities

• Gaṅgā
• Soma (Moon)
• Arka (Sun)

Shakti Aspects

• Gaṅgā as purifying Devī

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• Purification symbolism

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

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.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sthāna: it situates Gaṅgā within a cosmic hydrology linking lunar and solar principles.

What is the esoteric significance?

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.