Shloka 28
Mātali’s Arrival and Arjuna’s Ascent toward Amarāvatī (मातलिसंयुक्तरथागमनम् तथा इन्द्रलोकगमनारम्भः)
तत्र सम गाथा गायन्ति साम्ना परमवल्गुना । गन्धर्वस्तुम्बुरुश्रेष्ठा: कुशला गीतसामसु,उस समय वहाँ सामगानमें निपुण तुम्बुरु आदि श्रेष्ठ गन्धर्वगण सामगानके नियमानुसार अत्यन्त मधुर स्वरमें गाथागान करने लगे
tatra sma gāthā gāyanti sāmnā paramavalgunā | gandharvās tumburuśreṣṭhāḥ kuśalā gītasāmasu ||
There, the Gandharvas—foremost among them Tumburu—skilled in song and in the chanting of Sāman melodies, began to sing narrative lays in strict accordance with the rules of Sāmagāna, their voices exceedingly sweet. The scene underscores the civilizing power of disciplined art: beauty is not mere indulgence, but a refined practice governed by order and tradition.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true beauty in art is joined to discipline: the Gandharvas sing sweetly, yet within the established rules of Sāmagāna, suggesting that refinement and tradition guide aesthetic expression.
Vaiśampāyana describes a scene where celestial musicians (Gandharvas), led by Tumburu, begin singing gāthās in melodious Sāman-style chanting, following the formal conventions of Sāmagāna.