Śukrā (River)
Śukrā · śukrā, “the bright one”
Śukra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Śukra.
Śukrā is a river of Śālmala-dvīpa, one of the seven dvīpas of the earth. Lomaharshaṇa names it fifth among the seven rivers of that dvīpa in Chapter 20 of the Brahma Purāṇa, in his account to the munis of the dvīpas that lie beyond Jambūdvīpa. The seven are Śroṇī, Toyā, Vitṛshṇā, Candrā, Śukrā, Vimocanī and Nivṛtti, and these rivers take away pāpas by mere remembrance (smaraṇa-mātra).
Śālmala-dvīpa
The lord of Śālmala-dvīpa is the hero Vapushmān. Seven varsha mountains there are known by the names of his sons: Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha. The dvīpa is twice the measure of Plaksha-dvīpa and is surrounded by the ocean of sugar-cane juice (ikshu-rasa). It has seven chief mountains (kulācalas) bearing gems within them, Kumuda, Unnata, Valāhaka, Droṇa, Kaṅka, Mahisha and Kakudmān, and on Droṇa-giri grow great healing herbs. Its varshas are Śveta, Lohita, Jīmūta, Harita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha.
The four varṇas live there, known by their colours: the brāhmaṇas honey-coloured (kapila), the kshatriyas red, the vaiśyas yellow and the śūdras dark. Those who perform yāgas there worship Bhagavān Vishṇu, and serve him in the yajña in the form of Vāyu. The devas are present in this most lovely dvīpa. Because the śālmala tree, the silk-cotton tree, grows there, it is called Śālmala-dvīpa.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20