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Essay name: Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature

Author: S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya
Affiliation: University of Madras / Department of Sanskrit

The essay studies the Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature and its relationship with the South Indian musical tradition. The study emphasizes the universal appeal of music and documents how it pervades various aspects of life, art, literature, painting, and sculpture.

Chapter 3 - Musical Instruments of India (with reference to Sanskrit literary sources)

Page:

47 (of 114)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Warning! Page nr. 47 has not been proofread.

160
During the life of incognito, Arjuna got a job in the Virāṭa court
on account of his skills in music and dance.
गायामि नृत्याम्या� वादयाम� भद्रोऽस्मि �
नृत्ते कुशलोऽस्मि गीते तव उत्तराया� परिदत्स्� मा� स्वय� �
भवाम� देव्या नरदे� नर्तकः �
� शिक्षयामास � गीतवादित� �
( [gāyāmi nṛtyāmyātha vādayāmi bhadro'smi |
nṛtte kuśalo'smi gīte tava uttarāyā� paridatsva mā� svaya� ||
bhavāmi devyā naradeva nartaka� |
sa śikṣayāmāsa ca gītavādita� ||
(
]
Book 4 - Chapter 10 - Verses 8 & 12)
Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am
proficient in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me unto
(the princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal maiden. As
to how I have come by this form, what will it avail thee to hear the
account which will only augment my pain? Know me, O king of men, to
be Vrihannala, a son or daughter without father or mother' and taught
the lessons by singing along with the musical instruments.
There is an interesting comparison between the bow and the Vīṇ�.
पाशोपधानां जयातन्त्री� चापदण्डा� महास्वना� �
शरवण धनुर्वीणा शत्रुमध्दे परवादय �
( [pāśopadhānā� jayātantrī� cāpadaṇḍā� mahāsvanā� |
śaravaṇa dhanurvīṇ� śatrumadhde paravādaya ||
(
]
Book 4 - Chapter 33 -Verse 16)
Do thou like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the
ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from
thy bow. Thy bow is even like a Vīṇ�. Its two ends represent the ivory
pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and the
arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the midst of the foe
that Vīṇ� of musical sound.

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