Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा गीत॑ च तद्‌ दिव्यं वादित्राणां च नि:स्वनम्‌ छायाश्व विपुला दृष्टवा देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्‌

Transliteration

śrutvā gītaṃ ca tad divyaṃ vāditrāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanam | chāyāś ca vipulā dṛṣṭvā devagandharvarakṣasām ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Nghe khúc ca thiên giới ấy cùng tiếng vang ngân của nhạc khí, lại thấy những hình tướng to lớn, rờn rợn của chư Deva, các Gandharva và loài Rākṣasa, người chứng kiến bỗng cảm nhận như các sức mạnh siêu phàm đã tụ hội quanh chiến địa—một khoảnh khắc tựa điềm báo, làm tăng thêm sức nặng đạo lý của cuộc chiến và hậu quả của những lựa chọn đang được định đoạt.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (active sense), —, —, —

• गीतम्: song, singing
• गीतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गै)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तत्: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दिव्यम्: divine, celestial
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वादित्राणाम्: of musical instruments
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निःस्वनम्: sound, resonance
• निःस्वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• छायाः: shadows, forms
• छायाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विपुलाः: vast, great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (active sense), —, —, —

• देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्: of the gods, gandharvas, and rakshasas
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-गन्धर्व-रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Rākṣasas
• musical instruments (vāditra)
• divine song (gīta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that human conflict—especially war driven by adharma—does not remain merely human in its scope: it draws the attention of higher and darker powers alike, reminding listeners that actions on the battlefield carry cosmic and ethical consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

A celestial song and the loud music of instruments are heard, and immense shadowy forms of Devas, Gandharvas, and Rākṣasas are perceived—suggesting a supernatural gathering or portent surrounding the events of the war.