In several places in the texts five rivers are mentioned as the five great rivers (mahānadī) of India, and they are used in various similes and metaphors. These rivers are:

Gaṅgā,

Yamunā,

Aciravatī,

Sarabhū, and

Mahī.

e.g., Vin.ii.239; A.iv.101; S.ii.135; Ud.v.4; also Mil.380.