Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 37
Vision of Nandana Grove: The Glory of the Wish-Fulfilling Tree and the Birth of Aśokasundarī
नदीषु मुख्या सुरनिम्नगापि विसृष्टिकर्त्तापि यथैव धाता । सुखावहानां च यथा सुचंद्रो भूतेषु मुख्या च यथैव पृथ्वी
nadīṣu mukhyā suranimnagāpi visṛṣṭikarttāpi yathaiva dhātā | sukhāvahānāṃ ca yathā sucaṃdro bhūteṣu mukhyā ca yathaiva pṛthvī
నదులలో దివ్య గంగా ప్రధానము; సృష్టికర్తలలో ధాతా (బ్రహ్మ) శ్రేష్ఠుడు. సుఖప్రదాతలలో సుందర చంద్రుడు శ్రేష్ఠుడు; భూతతత్త్వాలలో భూమి ప్రధానము.
Unspecified (narrative verse within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: river
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरनिम्नगापि = सुरनिम्नगा + अपि; विसृष्टिकर्त्तापि = विसृष्टिकर्ता + अपि; यथैव = यथा + एव; सुचंद्रो = सुचन्द्रः (visarga sandhi in pada); भूतेषु unchanged.
FAQs
By naming the divine river (Gaṅgā) as foremost among rivers, the verse elevates her as the paradigmatic sacred river, implicitly supporting tīrtha-oriented devotion and pilgrimage culture central to Purāṇic sacred geography.
It uses a comparative pattern—“among X, Y is chief”—to rank archetypal supports of life and dharma: Gaṅgā among rivers, Dhātṛ/Brahmā among creators, the moon among happiness-givers, and Earth among beings/elements.
The verse encourages discernment of what is most life-sustaining and beneficial—revering sources of purity (Gaṅgā), order (Dhātṛ), well-being (moon), and stability (Earth)—and aligning one’s conduct with gratitude and reverence toward them.