Shloka 46
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
एताश्षान्याश्न वै वह्नयः प्रनृत्ताप्सरस: शुभा: । अवादयंश्न गन्धर्वा वाद्यानि विविधानि च,तदनन्तर उर्वरा, मिश्रकेशी, रम्भा, उर्वशी, अलम्बुषा, घृताची, चित्रा, चित्रांगदा, रुचि, मनोहरा, सुकेशी, सुमुखी, हासिनी, प्रभा, विद्युता, प्रशमी, दान्ता, विद्योता और रति-ये तथा और भी बहुत-सी शुभलक्षणा अप्सराएँ नृत्य करने लगीं और गन्धर्वगण नाना प्रकारके बाजे बजाने लगे
etāś cānyāś ca vai vahnyo nṛttāpsarasaḥ śubhāḥ | avādayaṃś ca gandharvā vādyāni vividhāni ca || tadanantaram urvarā miśrakeśī rambhā urvaśī alambuṣā ghṛtācī citrā citrāṅgadā ruciḥ manoharā sukeśī sumukhī hāsinī prabhā vidyutā praśamī dāntā vidyotā ratiś ca—ityādayaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Então muitas outras Apsaras de sinais auspiciosos—radiantes como chamas—começaram a dançar, e os Gandharvas tocaram instrumentos de muitos tipos. Depois disso, Urvarā, Miśrakeśī, Rambhā, Urvaśī, Alambuṣā, Ghṛtācī, Citrā, Citrāṅgadā, Ruci, Manoharā, Sukeśī, Sumukhī, Hāsinī, Prabhā, Vidyutā, Praśamī, Dāntā, Vidyotā e Rati—junto de muitas outras Apsaras marcadas por sinais propícios—tomaram a dança, enquanto as hostes de Gandharvas prosseguiam com sua música variada.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how righteous or sacred occasions are portrayed as drawing cosmic approval: celestial beings celebrate through music and dance, suggesting that dharmic order is harmonized not only socially but also cosmically.
Bhīṣma describes a scene of celestial celebration: numerous Apsarases begin dancing and Gandharvas accompany them with diverse instruments; the verse then lists prominent Apsarases who join the performance.