Shloka 11

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

विदर्भा च शतद्रूश्च नद्यः पापहराः शुभाः / आसां पिबन्ति सलिलं मध्यदेशादयो जनाः

Transliteration

vidarbhā ca śatadrūśca nadyaḥ pāpaharāḥ śubhāḥ / āsāṃ pibanti salilaṃ madhyadeśādayo janāḥ

Translation

وِدَربھا اور شَتَدرُو—یہ مبارک ندیاں گناہ دور کرنے والی ہیں؛ ان کا پانی مَدیہ دیش وغیرہ کے لوگ پیتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• विदर्भा: Vidarbhā (river)
• विदर्भा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (नदी-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शतद्रूः: Śatadrū (river)
• शतद्रूः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतद्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (नदी-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पापहराः: sin-removing
• पापहराः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—पापं हरन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय)

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• आसाम्: of these (rivers)
• आसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्-प्रातिपदिक (सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पिबन्ति: drink
• पिबन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मध्यदेशादयः: people beginning with those of the Madhyadeśa
• मध्यदेशादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यदेश + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—मध्यदेशः आदिः येषाम् (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे तत्पुरुष-रूप; 'starting with Madhyadeśa')

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through association with sacred rivers (drinking/using their water), emphasizing purification and auspiciousness as karmic outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi as a preparatory discipline; outer purity supporting inner sattva.

Application: Treat water as sacred: use tīrtha-jala respectfully (ritual sipping, cleanliness), and protect potable water sources as a moral duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: rivers and cultural region (Madhyadeśa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (nadī-māhātmya tone: pāpa-hara, śubha)

Characters & Entities

• Vidarbhā
• Śatadrū
• Madhyadeśa

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred rivers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents certain rivers as pāpaharāḥ—purifying and merit-enhancing—showing that tīrtha and contact with sacred waters are upheld as practical means of spiritual cleansing within dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through dhārmic practices; reducing sin is portrayed as supportive for a favorable post-death course described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach pilgrimages and river rituals with ethical intent: cultivate purity of conduct, and treat tīrtha practices (like sipping sanctified water) as reminders to reduce harmful actions and strengthen dharma.