Shloka 39

Devanagari script

सेवितं चाप्सर: सड्घैर्गन्धर्वैर्देविचारिभि: । विमानं समधिष्ठाय श्रिया परमया ज्वलन्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

sevitaṃ cāpsaraḥ-saṅghair gandharvair divicāribhiḥ |

vimānaṃ samadhiṣṭhāya śriyā paramayā jvalan, bhārata! |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Served by companies of Apsarases and by Gandharvas who move in the heavens, he ascends and takes his seat upon a celestial vimāna; blazing with supreme splendor, O Bhārata, he shines forth.

Word by Word

• सेवितम्: served/attended
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेवित (√सेव्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अप्सरः: by apsarases
• अप्सरः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• सङ्घैः: by groups/companies
• सङ्घैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्घ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गन्धर्वैः: by gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• देविचारिभिः: by those moving among the gods (celestial wanderers)
• देविचारिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देविचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विमानम्: celestial chariot/air-car
• विमानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समधिष्ठाय: having mounted/ascended
• Type: Verb
• Root: समधिष्ठाय (सम् + अधि + √स्था)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• श्रिया: with splendor/beauty
• श्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परमया: supreme, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• ज्वलन्: shining, blazing
• ज्वलन्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत् (√ज्वल्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhārata (addressee)
• Apsarases
• Gandharvas
• Vimāna (celestial vehicle)
• Heaven (divi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse reinforces the Mahābhārata’s moral economy: righteous conduct and accumulated merit are portrayed as yielding exalted posthumous states, symbolized by radiant splendor and honor from celestial beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a meritorious person being honored in heaven—attended by Apsarases and Gandharvas—mounting a divine vimāna and shining with supreme brilliance.