Shloka 52
तुम्बुरुप्रमुखा राजन् गन्धर्वाश्व यतोर्डर्जुन: । प्राधेया: सहमौनेया गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणा:,राजन! देवर्षि, ब्रह्मर्षि तथा राजर्षियोंके समुदाय पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनके पक्षमें थे। तुम्बुरु आदि गन्धर्व, प्राधा और मुनिसे उत्पन्न हुए गन्धर्व एवं अप्सराओंके समुदाय भी अर्जुनकी ही ओर थे
tumburupramukhā rājan gandharvāś ca yato ’rjunaḥ | prādeyāḥ sahamauneyā gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, para Gandharva yang diketuai Tumburu, serta bala Gandharva dan Apsara—yang dikenali sebagai Prādeya dan juga yang lahir daripada resi Mauni—semuanya berpihak kepada Arjuna.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a recurring Mahābhārata ethic: dharma is not merely human opinion but a cosmic principle. The alignment of Gandharvas and Apsarases with Arjuna functions as a narrative sign that the righteous cause attracts higher, unseen support.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that celestial groups—Gandharvas led by Tumburu, along with the Prādeyas and the Mauneya-descended Gandharvas and hosts of Apsarases—are on Arjuna’s side, indicating supernatural presence and moral backing in the war context.