Shloka 86
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा देवाश्च स्तुतिपाठकाः । एवं क्रमेण कल्पांते सार्वभौमो भवेन्नृपः
gītaṃ gāyaṃti gaṃdharvā devāśca stutipāṭhakāḥ | evaṃ krameṇa kalpāṃte sārvabhaumo bhavennṛpaḥ
ഗന്ധർവ്വർ ഗീതങ്ങൾ പാടുന്നു, ദേവന്മാർ സ്തുതിപാഠം ചെയ്യുന്നു; ഇങ്ങനെ ക്രമത്തിൽ കല്പാന്തത്തിൽ രാജാവ് സർവ്വഭൗമ ചക്രവർത്തിയാകുന്നു।
Unspecified (narrative voice; speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Praise (stuti) and sacred sound accompany rightful prosperity; dharmic progression culminates in cakravartin status when merit matures across time (krameṇa).
Application: Make praise a daily discipline: recite stotras, sing nāma-kīrtana; for leaders, cultivate dharmic governance—use authority to protect, give, and uphold truth.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A celestial orchestra of Gandharvas sings beneath an arch of gold, holding vīṇās and flutes, while devas stand in rows reciting hymns with folded hands. At the center, the destined sovereign sits composed, as if the music itself is weaving a crown of sound around him, hinting at the long karmic ascent that culminates at kalpa’s end.","primary_figures":["Gandharvas (musicians)","Devas (stuti-pāṭhakāḥ)","A future cakravartin king"],"setting":"Celestial assembly hall with musicians’ dais and hymn-chanting deva choir.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sunrise gold","deep maroon","lapis blue","silver white","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central enthroned cakravartin with ornate crown, Gandharvas playing vīṇā and flute on either side, devas in prayerful rows chanting stuti; lavish gold leaf on instruments, crowns, and pillars, rich reds/greens, embossed halos, symmetrical temple-arch framing, intricate textile patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate court-music scene with delicate instruments, refined faces, soft gradients, a lyrical sense of sound shown through flowing scarf-lines and floating petals, cool jewel palette with gentle gold accents, balanced composition suggesting calm authority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined musicians with stylized vīṇās, devas chanting in rhythmic repetition, central king in steady posture, strong red-yellow-green palette, ornamental borders and temple-wall symmetry, expressive eyes conveying devotion and dignity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a kīrtana-like celestial assembly framed by lotus and floral borders, musicians arranged symmetrically, deep blue background with gold highlights, peacocks and vines in the margins, intricate patterning that suggests musical rhythm through repeated motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["vīṇā drone","flute phrases","temple bells","conch shell","choral chanting"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवाः+च→देवाश्च; भवेत्+नृपः→भवेन्नृपः (त्+न→न्न)
FAQs
Gandharvas are celestial beings famed as musicians and singers in Hindu cosmology; they frequently appear in Purāṇic scenes of divine celebration and praise.
It signals a cosmic timescale—an aeon’s conclusion—used in Purāṇas to frame events within cyclical creation and dissolution, emphasizing that worldly sovereignty is also subject to cosmic order.
The verse suggests that legitimate sovereignty is aligned with dharmic order and cosmic sequence (krama), and is accompanied by recognition or celebration expressed through sacred praise (stuti) and music.