Shloka 64

Devanagari script

गीतगन्धर्वघोषैश्न भेरीपणवनि:स्वनै: । सदा प्रह्लादितस्ताभिवदेवकन्याभिरिज्यते,वहाँ देवकन्याएँ गीत और वाद्योंके घोष तथा भेरी और पणवकी मधुर ध्वनिसे उस पुरुषको आनन्द प्रदान करती हुई सदा उसका पूजन करती हैं

Transliteration

gīta-gandharva-ghoṣaiś ca bherī-paṇava-niḥsvanaiḥ | sadā prahlāditaḥ tābhir deva-kanyābhir ijyate ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: With resonant songs and Gandharva-like musical acclamations, and with the sweet sounds of kettledrums and paṇava-drums, the celestial maidens continually delight that noble person and ever worship him.

Word by Word

गीताby songs

गन्धर्वघोषैःby the shouts/choruses of Gandharvas

चand

भेरीपणवनिःस्वनैःby the sounds of kettledrums and panavas

सदाalways

प्रह्लादितःbeing delighted/pleased

ताभिःby them (by those [maidens])

देवकन्याभिःby the divine maidens

इज्यतेis worshipped

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Deva-kanyas (celestial maidens)

Gandharva (as heavenly music/performers)

Bherī (drum)

Paṇava (drum)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral logic of dharma: righteous conduct yields honor and joy as its fruit. The ‘worship’ by celestial maidens symbolizes the esteem and delight that accrue to a person of merit, reinforcing that ethical living is not merely restraint but a source of auspicious reward.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a blessed state in which a worthy person is continually gladdened and honored in a divine setting. Celestial maidens offer music—songs and instrumental sounds (bherī and paṇava)—as a form of ongoing reverence.