Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.15.21
मृदङ्गशङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनै:
सतालवीणामुरजेष्टवेणुभि: ।
नृत्यै: सवाद्यैरुपदेवगीतकै-
र्मनोरमां स्वप्रभया जितप्रभाम् ॥ २१ ॥
mṛdaṅga-śaṅkhānaka-dundubhi-svanaiḥ
[mridanga-shankhaanaka-dundubhi-svanaih]
satāla-vīṇā-murajeṣṭa-veṇubhiḥ
[sataala-veenaa-murajeshta-venubhih]
nṛtyaiḥ savādyair upadeva-gītakair
[nrityaih savaadyair upadeva-geetakair]
manoramāṁ sva-prabhayā jita-prabhām
[manoramaam sva-prabhayaa jita-prabhaam]
Word-for-word
mṛdaṅga
—
of drums
śaṅkha
—
conchshells
ānaka-dundubhi
—
and kettledrums
svanaiḥ
—
by the sounds
sa-tāla
—
in perfect tune
vīṇā
—
a stringed instrument
muraja
—
a kind of drum
iṣṭa-veṇubhiḥ
—
accompanied by the very nice sound of the flute
nṛtyaiḥ
—
with dancing
sa-vādyaiḥ
—
with concert instruments
upadeva-gītakaiḥ
—
with singing by the secondary demigods like the Gandharvas
manoramām
—
beautiful and pleasing
sva-prabhayā
—
by its own brilliance
jita-prabhām
—
the personification of beauty was conquered.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mṛdaṅga-śaṅkhānaka-dundubhi-svanaiḥ
mṛdaṅga
of drums
śaṅkha
conchshells
ānaka-dundubhi
and kettledrums
svanaiḥ
by the sounds
satāla-vīṇā-murajeṣṭa-veṇubhiḥ
sa-tāla
in perfect tune
vīṇā
a stringed instrument
muraja
a kind of drum
iṣṭa-veṇubhiḥ
accompanied by the very nice sound of the flute
nṛtyaiḥ savādyair upadeva-gītakair
nṛtyaiḥ
with dancing
sa-vādyaiḥ
with concert instruments
upadeva-gītakaiḥ
with singing by the secondary demigods like the Gandharvas
manoramāṁ sva-prabhayā jita-prabhām
manoramām
beautiful and pleasing
sva-prabhayā
by its own brilliance
jita-prabhām
the personification of beauty was conquered.
The city was filled with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapurī defeated beauty personified.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The city was attractive with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, conchs, kettledrums, with flutes keeping beat to stringed instruments and tambourines, with dancing accompanied by instrumental music, and with Gandharvas’ singing. The beauty of Indrapurī defeated beauty personified.
The city defeated beauty personified (jita-prabhām) by its beauty. Another version has jita-grahām. This means it defeated the planets like the sun.
Personal Guidance
Mṛdaṅgas, conches, drums, flutes, strings, dancing, singing Gandharvas — Indrapurī defeated beauty itself. Music and dance are not peripheral; they constitute heavenly life. Sound is intrinsic to higher residence.
Reflection Questions
- How much music and dance is in my daily life — and is the absence diminishing my consciousness?
- What instrument or song would I add to my life if I treated sound as heavenly?
My note
Source: vedabase.io