Manava Dharmashastra 6.90

6.90

nadyo gaṅgādayaḥ | bhidyādayo nadāḥ | kenacidādhārasanniveśabhedena rasabhedena ca nadīnadayornirdeśabhedaḥ| ekatvavidhānaṃ tu rūḍhyā| liṅgabhede bhāryādāraśabdavat| saṃsthitirāśrayaḥ | samudro yathā sarvajalāśraya evaṃ gṛhasthaḥ sarvadharmānadhikṛtavān |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Rivers’—the Gaṅgā and the rest;—‘rivulets’—the Bhidya and others. The distinction between ‘rivers’ and ‘rivulets’ is based upon the difference of position or of taste.

In actual usage both are treated as one and the same; and the diversity of gender (in that case) is explained as standing on the same footing as that in the ease of the synonymous words ‘bhāryā’ (feminine) and ‘dārā’ (Masculine).

‘Resting place’—support.

Just as the Ocean is the resting place for all kinds of water, so is the Householder entitled to the performance of all duties—(90)