Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.52
स्रोतोभि: सप्तभिर्या वै स्वर्धुनी सप्तधा व्यधात् ।
सप्तानां प्रीतये नाना सप्तस्रोत: प्रचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥
srotobhiḥ saptabhir yā vai
[srotobhih saptabhir yaa vai]
svardhunī saptadhā vyadhāt
[svardhunee saptadhaa vyadhaat]
saptānāṁ prītaye nānā
[saptaanaam preetaye naanaa]
sapta-srotaḥ pracakṣate
[sapta-srotah prachakshate]
Word-for-word
srotobhiḥ
—
by currents
saptabhiḥ
—
by seven (divisions)
yā
—
the river
vai
—
certainly
svardhunī
—
the sacred Ganges
saptadhā
—
seven branches
vyadhāt
—
created
saptānām
—
of the seven
prītaye
—
for the satisfaction of
nānā
—
various
sapta-srotaḥ
—
seven sources
pracakṣate
—
known by name.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
srotobhiḥ saptabhir yā vai
srotobhiḥ
by currents
saptabhiḥ
by seven (divisions)
yā
the river
vai
certainly
svardhunī saptadhā vyadhāt
svardhunī
the sacred Ganges
saptadhā
seven branches
vyadhāt
created
saptānāṁ prītaye nānā
saptānām
of the seven
prītaye
for the satisfaction of
nānā
various
sapta-srotaḥ pracakṣate
sapta-srotaḥ
seven sources
pracakṣate
known by name.
The place is called Saptasrota [“divided by seven”] because there the waters of the sacred Ganges were divided into seven branches. This was done for the satisfaction of the seven great ṛṣis.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
That place where the Gaṅgā became seven by dividing into seven branches to please the seven sages is called Sapta-srota.
Commentary
That which is famous as Gaṅgā (svardhunī) made herself into seven (saptadhā). Why? She did it to please the seven sages. That place is called by names like Sapta-srota or Marīci-gaṅgā.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The place is called Saptasrota because there the Ganges was divided into seven branches for the seven great ṛṣis. Sacred places have stories of how they became sacred. The water itself remembers.
Reflection Questions
- What sacred place in my life carries a story I should remember?
- Where could returning to a known sacred spot deepen me?
My note
Source: vedabase.io