Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 7

Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa

Devanagari script

एवं माल्यवच्छिखरान्निष्पतन्ती ततोऽनुपरतवेगा केतुमालमभि चक्षु: प्रतीच्यां दिशि सरित्पतिं प्रविशति ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ mālyavac-chikharān niṣpatantī tato ’nuparata-vegā ketumālam abhi cakṣuḥ pratīcyāṁ diśi sarit-patiṁ praviśati.

Translation

ดังนี้ สาขาแห่งคงคาที่ชื่อว่า ‘จักษุ’ ตกจากยอดเขามาลยวาน แล้วไหลหลั่งไม่ขาดสายผ่านเกตุมาล-วรรษะ และเข้าสู่มหาสมุทรน้ำเค็มทางทิศตะวันตก

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• माल्यवत्-शिखरात्: from the peak of Mālyavat
• माल्यवत्-शिखरात्: अपादान (source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (माल्यवतः शिखरम्)

• निष्पतन्ती: falling down, rushing forth
• निष्पतन्ती: कर्ता (agent; agreeing with river)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√पत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: from there; then
• ततः: देश-कालाधिकरण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (from there/then)

• अनुपरत-वेगा: with unceasing speed
• अनुपरत-वेगा: विशेषण (qualifier of river)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुपरत (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अनुपरतो वेगः यस्याः)

• केतुमालम्: Ketumāla (region)
• केतुमालम्: कर्म (object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; देश/वर्ष-नाम

• अभि: towards
• अभि: दिशा-सम्बन्ध (directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थे/दिशावाचक (towards)

• चक्षुः: (the river) Cakṣu
• चक्षुः: कर्ता (subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• प्रतीच्याम्: in the western
• प्रतीच्याम्: अधिकरण (location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; दिक्-विशेषण

• दिशि: direction
• दिशि: अधिकरण (location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सरित्-पतिम्: the lord of rivers (ocean)
• सरित्-पतिम्: कर्म (object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सरितां पतिः)

• प्रविशति: enters
• प्रविशति: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√विश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Cakṣu (river)
• Mount Mālyavān
• Ketumāla-varṣa
• Ocean (Samudra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the river Cakṣu in Canto 5?

It says the river Cakṣu springs from Mount Mālyavān, flows swiftly through Ketumāla-varṣa, and finally enters the ocean in the western direction.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing rivers and regions to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is narrating the structure of Jambūdvīpa and the Lord’s ordered cosmic arrangement, giving Parīkṣit a complete Bhagavata vision of the universe alongside teachings of devotion.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

It encourages seeing nature and geography as part of a sacred, purposeful order—cultivating reverence, humility, and remembrance of the Supreme behind the world’s design.