Shloka 15
Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme
ऋषय जश्न हि देवाश्ष गन्धर्वाश्ष महौजस: । वियुक्ता ब्रह्मघोषेण न भ्राजन्ते यथा पुरा,'यहाँके ऋषि, देवता और महाबली गन्धर्व भी ब्रह्मघोषसे विमुक्त हो अब पहलेकी भाँति शोभा नहीं पा रहे हैं!
ṛṣayaś ca hi devāś ca gandharvāś ca mahaujasaḥ | viyuktā brahmaghoṣeṇa na bhrājante yathā purā ||
Bhishma said: “Indeed, the sages, the gods, and the mighty Gandharvas—now separated from the sacred resonance of Vedic recitation—no longer shine as they once did. When the sustaining sound of Brahman (the Vedic chant) is absent, even exalted beings lose their former splendor.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sacred order and spiritual vitality are sustained by brahmaghoṣa—Vedic recitation and the presence of Brahmanic discipline. When that sustaining practice is absent, even lofty beings lose radiance, implying that dharma depends on continual cultivation, not mere status.
Bhishma is describing a condition of decline: sages, gods, and Gandharvas are portrayed as diminished because they are ‘separated’ from brahmaghoṣa. The statement functions as a lament and a warning about the consequences of neglecting Vedic rites and sacred learning.