Shloka 24

Narmadā

Revā) Tīrtha Greatness: The Gandharva Maidens’ Curse Narrative (Acchodā Episode Begins

Devanagari script

गांधर्वमाश्रित्य परं स्वरं ततो गेयं स्वभावध्वनिभिः समूर्छनम् । एणीदृशस्ताः प्रजगुः कलाक्षरं तारप्रवृद्धं गतिभिश्च सुस्वरम्

Transliteration

gāṃdharvamāśritya paraṃ svaraṃ tato geyaṃ svabhāvadhvanibhiḥ samūrchanam | eṇīdṛśastāḥ prajaguḥ kalākṣaraṃ tārapravṛddhaṃ gatibhiśca susvaram

Translation

ഗാന്ധർവ്വസംഗീതത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ച് അവർ പിന്നെ പരമ സ്വരം പിടിച്ചു; സ്വാഭാവിക ധ്വനികളുമായി ലയിച്ച അവരുടെ ഗാനം പൂർണ്ണ മൂർച്ചനയായി വിരിഞ്ഞു. മാൻകണ്ണികളായ ആ കന്യകൾ കലാമയ അക്ഷരങ്ങളോടെ, താരസ്വരത്തിൽ ഉയർന്ന്, സുന്ദര ഗതികളോടെ സുമധുരസ്വരത്തിൽ പാടി।

Word by Word

• gāndharvam: Gāndharva music/mode
• gāndharvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāndharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्यय), meaning 'having resorted to'

• param: highest/supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with 'svaram'

• svaram: note/pitch
• svaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (ततः)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence

• geyam: to be sung/singable
• geyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: geya (प्रातिपदिक; √gai/√gā 'to sing' + ya)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate adjective to 'samūrchanam'

• svabhāva-dhvanibhiḥ: by natural tones/sounds
• svabhāva-dhvanibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); instrumental of means

• samūrchanam: harmonious blending/chorus (mūrchanā)
• samūrchanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samūrchana (प्रातिपदिक; sam-√mūrch 'to blend/merge' + ana)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• eṇī-dṛśaḥ: doe-eyed (ones)
• eṇī-dṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi 'having eyes like a doe'

• tāḥ: they (f.)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; pronoun referring to the maidens

• prajaguḥ: sang forth
• prajaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√gai (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana

• kalā-akṣaram: syllables with artistic measure/notes
• kalā-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of singing

• tāra-pravṛddham: heightened in high pitch
• tāra-pravṛddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक) + pravṛddha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from pra-√vṛdh)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with 'kalā-akṣaram'

• gatibhiḥ: with movements/tempos
• gatibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• susvaram: very melodious
• susvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with 'kalā-akṣaram'

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue speaker not explicit from the single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: gāṃdharvamāśritya = gāndharvam + āśritya; svabhāvadhvanibhiḥ = svabhāva-dhvanibhiḥ; eṇīdṛśastāḥ = eṇī-dṛśaḥ + tāḥ; kalākṣaram = kalā-akṣaram; gatibhiśca = gatibhiḥ + ca; tārapravṛddhaṃ = tāra-pravṛddham (anusvāra by sandhi).

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva (musical tradition)

FAQs

What is meant by “gāndharvam” in this verse?

It refers to Gandharva-music—the refined, celestial tradition of song and musical science (often associated with the Gandharvas) characterized by disciplined pitch (svara), melodic progressions (mūrchana), and aesthetic excellence.

How does the verse describe musical technique?

It highlights high pitch (paraṃ svaram), natural resonance (svabhāva-dhvanibhiḥ), structured melodic blending/progression (samūrcchanam), upper-register ascent (tāra-pravṛddham), and graceful musical movements or runs (gatibhiḥ), all resulting in sweet intonation (su-svaram).

What is the underlying aesthetic or ethical lesson implied?

The verse elevates disciplined artistry: beauty arises when natural ability (svabhāva-dhvani) is guided by cultivated skill (kalā-akṣara, mūrchana), suggesting that refinement and harmony are achieved through practice, order, and sensitivity.