The Geography of the Puranas c7.s1.9

c7.s1.9

The Saṃhitās and Upaniṣads enlarge and systematise the drainage pattern of the Ṛgveda. The Śat. Brāh. and Ait. Brāh. refer to a set of seven rivers flowing to the west while Bṛhadā. Up. adds another set of seven rivers flowing to the east. To the Ṛgvedic list is added Sadānīrā (probably Gaṇḍaka, Śat. Brāh. I, 4, 1, 14), Vāraṇāvatī (Atharvaveda, IV, 7, 1) and a few minor rivers. The list, however, swells and becomes comprehensive in the epics and is later transferred to the Purāṇas.