
Sūta said:
1. The divine rivers of holy waters have sprung from excellent lakes.1 These have great volume of waters. Listen to them in due order.
1. Purāņa writers believed in the following notions about river systems in general:
1. A river normally originates from a lake either over ground or underground and is associated with a mountain.
2. A river can penetrate through sub-terranean channels, mountain ranges and can flow in more than one current if intervened by ridges.
3. A river along with tributaries is treated as one single river.
2. What is called the moon (Soma) of the ocean of the firmament, the support of all living beings, is the reservoir of nectar for Devas.
3. The celestial river of sacred waters springs from it (the reservoir or nectar). That river of clear transparent water flows through the sky through the seventh path of the wind.1
1. Verses 3-11: This poetic synthesis of the heavenly Gangā (Galaxy) as the source of glaciers and rivers of Asia is repeated in other Puraņas like Bd. P., Mt. P.
4. It turns back on reaching the mass of brilliance. It is resorted to by luminary bodies. It extends to the full length of the sky, with thousands of crores of stars.
5. While the lordly elephant of lord Indra moves about in the firmament, he sportively agitates the water within it.
6. When Siddhas pass through the sky in their aerial chariots (great many in number), they have a sip in the sacred and healing water of this river.
7. Just as the sun revolves everyday, so this river urged by the wind, flows through various places.
8. It extends to eighty-four Yojanas all round. It circumambulates the Meru with great velocity.
9. The water currents are split by the fiery wind and the river falls upon the four northern peaks of Meru.
10. After emerging on the excellent sides of ridges of these peaks of Meru, the waters, divided into four, flow thus.
11. After flowing through the supportless firmament for sixty thousand Yojanas, the glorious river falls through the four sides of Meru.2
2. Though the river system described in the remaining part of the chapter is the traditional knowledge of the Purana writers, it was to a great extent correct and reliable (vide AGP. Ch. iv ‘The river system of Purăņas’).
12. This splendid, sacred river flowing through the four bases (feet) of Meru, falls again on the eastern Mandara.
13-15. The eastern branch of the river flows over the Mandara which is the abode of Devas and all the groups of Siddhas, which has many rivulets, caves, golden and variegated lands, ridges. It flows with the crystal clear water that subdues the arrogance and valour of the side-bunds. It flows round the beautiful Chaitraratha overflowing the path. This river of the firmament then enters the excellent lake Aruņoda (Kara Kul, NE Pamirs).
16. After coming out from Arunoda, the gently-flowing river falls on the mountain Shītanta (Kashghar range) abounding in beautiful fountains. This mountain is the abode of (multitudes) of Siddhas.
17. The sacred and excellent river is called Sita. Being held within the various groves and bushes, it is further divided into several branches.
18. From the peek of Sitanta,1 it falls on the mountain Sukuñja.1 From that mountain, it falls on the the mountain Sumañjasa.1
1. Offshoots of Tien Shan mountains.
19. Therefrom it falls on the mount Malyavānan2 comes to Vaikanka and from Vaikanka it passes to Maniparvata and then falls on the mountain Ruşhabha full of caves.
2. Modern Mustagh Ata,
20. Piercing through thousands of mountains thus, the river falls on the mountain Jathara resorted to by Siddhas.
21. From there the river again falls on the Devakūta mountain, the lower part of which extends up to the sea. In this way, the river gradually reaches the plains.
22-24. Thus flooding through thousands of valleys, hundreds of mountains, strange forests, a variety of lakes, the river, creating eddies in its expanses and joined by thousands of tributaries, flows over the great eastern continent3 Bhadrāśhva and falls into the eastern sea.
3. The Hwang Ho of China was believed to be the eastern extension of the Sita
25-26. The river (Alakanandā) that flows over Gandhamädana, the lord of mountains in the south, has many water falls and splashes waves and ripples in various ways. It then irrigates the Nandana park, the pleasant resort of Devas. This blessed river then circumambulates the forests of Gandhamādana.
27. It is known in the worlds as the Alakananda. It enters the northern lake Manasa which is as clear as the minds of Devas.
28. From the Mänasa lake, the river flows to the beautiful Triśhikhara, the lord of mountains. From the summit of the mountain Trikūta, it falls on the peak of Kalinga (?) mountain.
29-30. Falling from the peak of Kalinga, it flows on to the mountain Ruchaka. From there it flows to Nişhadha and then to Tāmrābha. Falling from the peak of Tamrābha, it flows to mount Shvetodara, thence to the lordly mountain Sumūla and then to the mountain Vasudhara,
31. From there it flows to Hemakūta and thence to Devaśhrunga, thereafter it flows to Mahāśhaila and then to Piśhăchaka mountain.
32. From the excellent mountain Pishachaka, it flows to Panchakūta and from Panchakūta to Kailasa, the mountain residence of Devas.
33. Whirling about in its bowels of caves and ridges, it falls on the excellent mountain Himavat.
34-35. Piercing through thousands of mountains thus, it flows quickly irrigating hundreds of land surfaces. Then it flows through thousands of forests and hundreds of caves and falls into the southern sea.
36-37. This river is one Yojana in breadth; it is hidden in the bowels of the peaks of mountain. It is held on head by noble-souled Shankara, lord of Devas. It is sanctifying, O leading Brāhmaṇa. It quells even terrible sins. By virtue of the contact with the body of lord Shankara, the great river has its waters rendered doubly sanctimonious in all the worlds.
38-40. From all round that mountain Himavat, through its many openings, thousands of rivers spring forth. They are known by other names. The river Gangå is resorted to by Siddhas and its waters are drunk by Rudras, Sadhyas, Anilas and Adityas. Blessed are the lands through which this great and reputed river flows.
41. Now I shall describe the western side of Meru mountain which is holy and contains several mines of precious stones and which is resorted to by pious persons.
42-45. Meru, the lord of mountains, is very massive with large bowels and caves. Its central region is embellished with table-lands, ridges and bushy growths. The water of this river is used by Devas and the river is held by the three-eyed deity. Urged by the wind, it flows far and wide, and whirls again like a creeper. It falls from the peak of Meru. Its water is used by many living beings. It is pure like the spotless silk and is splashed extensively. This river of the firmament resorted to by Siddhas and Chåranas on its peak, circumambulates the mountain and goes ahead.
46-47. This blessed river of many flowers and fruits irrigates the great forests of Devabhrāja, Mahabhrāja and Vaibhräja. Decorated by various forests and circumambulating the mountain, it enters the western lake of pure waters, Sitoda.
48-49. From Sitoda is goes to mount Supakşha. Again this river of holy clear water which is used by divine sages, falls from the peak of Supakşha. Thence this river of blessed waters falls on the Shikhi mountain.
50-53. (The river flows from one mountain to another:)
Thereafter the river flows from mountain Shikhi to mount Kanka, thence to Vaidūrya, then to mount Kapila and thence to Gandhamadana. From that excellent mountain it flows to Piñjara, the splendid mountain; from Piñjara it flows to Sarasa and from there it flows to Kumudàcala mountain.
It flows to the mountains Madhumān, Jana, Mukuța. From the peak of Mukuta, it flows to the great mountain Krishna, from Krishna it flows to the great mountain Shveta, served by(other) great mountains. From Shveta it ultimately comes down to thousand-peaked Shailendra, the lord of mountains.
54. With its waters augmented by tributaries, this auspicious river denudes thousands of mountains. It then flows at full speed and falls on the great mountain Päriyātra.
55-57. It glides among fountains, streams, caves and ridges. With numerous waves, it wanders through its many bowels. Its current is impeded by several rocks and boulders accidentally falling therein and its waters are split in various ways. It descends on the plains (the earth). The blessed river then irrigates the great continent Ketumala, populated by Mleccha tribes, and falls into the western sea.
58-60. The great river flows through the supportless auspicious firmament for a distance of sixty thousand Yojanas, throwing cascades of water like a garland being scattered. It falls from the peak of Meru, its waters being urged by the wind. Being cast in the sky, it takes a curved (circle-like body). It falls at the foot of Meru on the northern mountain Suparshva which is inhabited by living beings and whose flanks are variegated due to brilliant colours.
61-64. Then it drops from the ridges of the peaks resorted to by Devas and sages, with its waters scattered by flowery rafts. The blessed river irrigates and circumambulates the forest of the Sun-god which is the sylvan place of origin of variegated jewels. It then falls into the sacred lake Mahābhadra resorted to by blessed people. The beneficent white river is called Bhadrasomā. It flows rapidly and its shores are far apart. The great and holy river Mahābhadra flows thereafter.
65. Flowing rapidly with many rivulets flowing into it, and dashing against many bunds, the river falls on the ridges of Shankhakūta.
66. Falling down the ridges of Shankhakūta, it proceeds to Vrusha Parvata. From Vrusha Parvata, it flows then to Vatsagiri and then to Nagashaila.
67-71. From Nägaśhaila, it reaches the excellent mountain Nila, the Varsha mountain. From Nila, it flows to Kapiñjala, and then the river flows to Indranila, thereafter it flows to Mahanila, and Hernaśhrunga. From Hemaśhrunga it flows to Shveta, and from Shveta to Sunaga. From Sunaga, it flows to Sataśhrunga. Then the great river flows from Sataśhruga to the flower-carpet ed Puşhkara. From Puşhkara to Dviraja, the great mountain of great strength (Sumahābala). From there, it flows to Varāha Parvata and the mountain Mayūra. From the mountain Mayūra the rapid river flows to Ekaśhikhara bedecked with caves and crevasses, and then to the peak of the Järudhi mountain,
72. After piercing (forcing its way) through thousands of mountains thus, the great river reaches Triśhrunga, the boundary mountain with many peaks.
73-74. Falling from the ridges of Triśhrunga inhabited by blessed people this river of pure water falls off the ridges of Meru, and urged by the wind flows to the excellent mountain Viruddha. After irrigating the mountain the river flows into the western ocean.
75-77. On the wonderful great foot of Meru inhabited by living beings, on the northern mountain Suparshva whose sides are the sources of gold, the river falls into the bowels of caves, into various divisions and descends to the earth with wonderful flowery rafts. Irrigating the Northern Kuru region, the delightful auspicious river runs through the middle of the continent and flows into the northern ocean.
78. In this way the four great rivers of pure waters, falling down the ridges of great mountains, flow into the four directions.
79. Thus the earth of vast expanse I have almost explained to you. It is surrounded on all sides by Meru and other mountains.
80. The earth has four great continents, four forests of sports, four great trees as the four land-marks and four excellent lakes.
81. It has four great mountains and las four serpents for support, eight superior mountains and eight inferiors.