Historical Geography of Ancient India c7.155

c7.155

*Godāvarī*.—It is the name of a river (*Mahābh.*, 85, 33; 88, 2; *Bhāgavata Purāṇa*, V, 19, 18; *Brahmāṇḍap*, 1. 12. 15; *Matsya*, 22. 46; *Padmapurāṇa*, *Uttarakhaṇḍa*, vs. 35-38). According to the *Rāmāyaṇa* (*Araṇyakāṇḍa*, Sarga 15, vs. 11-18, 24), it was full of lotuses and not far from it antelopes freely moved about. Swans, kāraṇḍavas and cakravākas sported themselves in this river. This beautiful river had trees on both sides. Lakṣmaṇa took his bath in this river and returned to the leaf-hut taking with him many lotuses and fruits. Kālidāsa refers to it in his *Raghuvamśa* (XIII, 33). The Pañcavaṭī forest was situated on it. According to the *Brahmapurāṇa* (Ch. 77, vs. 9-10; *Saura*, Ch. 69, v. 26) it has its source in the Trayamvaka-tīrtha. Many holy places are situated on the bank of this river: Kuśāvartatīrtha, (*Brahmap*. Ch. 80), Daśāśvamedhikatīrtha (*Mahābh.*, Ch. 83, 64), Govardhanatīrtha (*Ibid.*, Ch. 91), Sāvitritīrtha (*Ibid.*, Ch. 102), Vidarbha (*Ibid.*, 121), Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha (*Ibid.*, Ch. 145)