Rivers in Indian Literature 2 RigVeda

Just like the seven seas, the Rig Veda refers to the seven rivers or Sapthasindhu. It is believed that these are the five rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej), Indus and Sarasvati.

The liberation of sapthasindhu by Indra, the God of Rain, through the slaying of Vritra (literally, the obstacle) has been gloriously encapsulated in verse – Book 1, Hymn XXXII. Indra. 

Here’s a translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith:
1 I will declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder.
He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.

 10 Rolled in the midst of never-ceasing currents flowing without a rest for ever onward.
The waters bear off Vrtra's nameless body: the foe of Indra sank to during darkness.

 12 A horse's tail wast thou when he, O Indra, smote on thy bolt; thou, God without a second,
Thou hast won back the kine, hast won the Soma; thou hast let loose to flow the Seven Rivers.

 It should be known that there is an entire ‘Hymn of Praise of Rivers’, the “Nadistuti Sukta”. Book 10, Hymn 75, is important for the reconstruction of the geography of the Vedic Civilisation. 

 Sindhu (the Indus) is addressed as the mightiest of rivers and mentioned specifically in verses 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9. Verse 5 enumerates ten rivers, beginning with Ganga and moving westwards:

 O Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Shutudri (Sutlej), Parushni (Iravati, Ravi), follow my praise! 
O Asikni (Chenab) Marudvridha, Vitasta (Jhelum), with the Arjikiya (Haro) and Sushoma (Sohan), listen! 

 The Sarasvati is hailed as ámbitame nádītame dévitame sárasvati, "best mother, best river, best goddess" (2.41.16). Praise for her is succinct: "is pure in her course from the mountains to the sea" (7.95.2) and that she “poured milk and ghee” (8.21.18).
Contributed by Suresh Yesuthasen