Shloka 5

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

तत्रादृश्यन्त गन्धर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसां गणा:

Transliteration

tatrādṛśyanta gandharvāstathaivāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「そこにはガンダルヴァたちが見え、同じくアプサラスの群れも現れていた――天界の臨在が事のただ中に姿を示した徴であり、戦によって世が揺らごうとも、高き界は宇宙の秩序（ダルマ）に従って見守り、介入することを示していた。」

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• अदृश्यन्त: were seen / appeared
• अदृश्यन्त: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Atmanepada, 3rd person plural

• गन्धर्वाः: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: indeclinable (adverb)

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable (particle)

• अप्सरसाम्: of the Apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: feminine, genitive, plural

• गणाः: groups / hosts
• गणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that human conflict unfolds under a wider cosmic gaze: celestial beings appear as markers of a larger moral and metaphysical order (ṛta/dharma) that frames the consequences of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator reports a vision at the scene: Gandharvas and companies of Apsarases are seen there, indicating a supernatural or heavenly presence accompanying the events being described in this section of Śalya Parva.