Shloka 4
भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
पठन्ति पाणिस्वनिकास्तथा गायन्ति गायना: । शड्खानथ मृदज्जांश्न॒ प्रवाद्यन्ति सहस्रश:,हाथसे वीणा आदि बजानेवाले पुरुष स्तुतिपाठ करने लगे, गायक गीत गाने लगे और सहसौरों मनुष्य शंख एवं मृदड़ बजाने लगे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | paṭhanti pāṇisvanikās tathā gāyanti gāyanāḥ | śaṅkhān atha mṛdaṅgāṃś ca pravādyanti sahasraśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The reciters began chanting hymns, the singers began to sing, and in their thousands people sounded conches and beat drums—raising a ceremonial music that marked public honor and auspicious celebration.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the role of auspicious sound—recitation, song, and ritual instruments—in marking communal approval and solemnizing public moments. In the broader Śānti context, it supports the idea that social order and dharma are reinforced not only by counsel but also by shared ceremonial practices that unify people after upheaval.
Vaiśampāyana describes a scene of celebration or formal honoring: reciters chant, singers perform, and large numbers of people blow conches and play drums, creating a grand ceremonial atmosphere around the ongoing events.