Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

अन्ये च नदा नद्यश्च वर्षे वर्षे सन्ति बहुशो मेर्वादिगिरिदुहितर: शतश: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

anye ca nadā nadyaś ca varṣe varṣe santi bahuśo merv-ādi-giri-duhitaraḥ śataśaḥ.

Translation

此外，各洲（varṣa）之中尚有无数大小河流；它们如同须弥等群山之女儿，分作百千支脉而流。

Synonyms

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (अन्ये नदाः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• नदाः: rivers (male-named)
• नदाः: कर्ता (subject; with anye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नद्यः: rivers (female-named)
• नद्यः: कर्ता (subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वर्षे: in a region (varṣa)
• वर्षे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वर्षे: in each region
• वर्षे: अधिकरण (distributive location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (varṣe varṣe = in each region)

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• बहुशः: many; in great number
• बहुशः: परिमाण/आवृत्ति (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक (many times/many)

• मेरु-आदि-गिरि-दुहितरः: daughters of mountains such as Meru
• मेरु-आदि-गिरि-दुहितरः: कर्ता (apposition to rivers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मेर्वादयः गिरयः तेषां दुहितरः)

• शतशः: by the hundreds
• शतशः: परिमाण (quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (by hundreds)

Characters & Entities

• Meru

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about rivers in Jambudvipa (Canto 5)?

This verse states that each varṣa has many rivers and streams—hundreds—described as arising from great mountains such as Mount Meru.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Mount Meru and rivers together?

In the cosmological narration, Śukadeva explains the geography of the varṣas: mountains are presented as sources, and rivers as their ‘daughters,’ emphasizing their origin from the great ranges like Meru.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

It encourages a sacred outlook toward nature—seeing rivers and mountains as part of the Lord’s ordered creation—cultivating gratitude, humility, and reverence rather than exploitation.