Shloka 156
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
हसते गायते चैव नृत्यते च मनोहरम् । वादयत्यपि वाद्यानि विचित्राणि गणैर्युत:,वे अपने गणोंके साथ रहकर हँसते हैं, गाते हैं, मनोहर नृत्य करते हैं और विचित्र बाजे भी बजाते हैं
hasate gāyate caiva nṛtyate ca manoharam | vādayaty api vādyāni vicitrāṇi gaṇair yutaḥ ||
Vāsudeva said: “Accompanied by his attendants, he laughs and sings; he performs charming dances, and he even plays various kinds of wondrous musical instruments.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights outward enjoyment—laughter, song, dance, and music—performed in company. In the ethical frame of the Anuśāsana Parva, such pleasures are typically evaluated by whether they remain within dharma: moderation, propriety, and the avoidance of conduct that leads to negligence or harm.
Vāsudeva describes a person (implicitly a figure being discussed in context) who, surrounded by his attendants, engages in festive amusements—laughing, singing, dancing attractively, and playing varied instruments—painting a scene of revelry and social entertainment.