Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 51
देवानां योनयो ह्यष्टौ गंधर्वाप्सरसां गणाः । महोत्सवे ततस्तस्मिन्गीतवादित्र उत्तमे
devānāṃ yonayo hyaṣṭau gaṃdharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | mahotsave tatastasmingītavāditra uttame
On y voyait les huit classes divines, ainsi que les troupes de Gandharvas et d’Apsaras ; et, dans cette grande fête, résonnaient des chants et des instruments d’une excellence suprême.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)
Listener: Pārtha
Scene: A luminous festival hall: eight divine classes arrayed in ranks; gandharvas singing with vīṇā and flute; apsarases dancing; the air filled with rhythmic percussion and melodic arcs.
FAQs
Where dharma and devotion peak, celebration itself becomes worship—music and song serve as offerings in a holy festival.
The tīrtha/saṅgama setting of this chapter, portrayed as a venue for a celestial mahotsava.
Implied devotional worship through gīta-vāditra (sacred singing and instruments) during the mahotsava.