Chapter1 Verse - 18

 

Verse - 18

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वश: पृथिवीपते |
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहु: शङ्खान्दध्मु: पृथक् पृथक् || 18||

Transliteration :

Drupado draupadeyAshca sarvashaH prithivIpate .

Saubhadrashca mahAbAhuH shankhAndadhmuH prithak  

                                                                             prithak..18..

                    Click here to listen the verse

Word-by-word meaning:

द्रुपदो -  Drupada; द्रौपदेयाश्च -  and sons of Draupadi; सर्वश: - all; पृथिवीपते- O! Lord of the Earth; सौभद्रश्च -  and the son of Subadhra; महाबाहु: - mighty armed; शङ्खान् – the conch-shells; दध्मुः: - blew; पृथक् पृथक् – individiually;

Meaning:

(Then) O, the ruler of Earth ! King Drupada, Sons of Draupadi who are mighty armed, son of Subadhra ( Abhimanyu ) blew their respective conch-shells.

Significance :

Sanjaya here addresses Dhritharashtra as  “पृथिवीपते- the ruler of Earth”, to remind him his responsibility to protect his subjects. The after effect of this war will definitely be so very destructive. Dhritharashtra, being the king of Hastinapura, should have stopped this war. But his jealousy and most importantly his blind love for his son prohibited him from doing so. Which now has resulted in witnessing this terrible war and eventually the destruction of his whole race. The war field now looks as if the Earth has been split into two, with so many Kings and Princes on each side of the army. Nearly five generation of Kings are there in the battle , Bhishma , Drona , Drupada, Arjuna, and the youngest Abhimanyu. It is totally unfortunate for Dhritharashtra to witness this destruction.

Chapter1 Verse - 17

 

Verse – 17
काश्यश्च परमेष्वास: शिखण्डी च महारथ: |
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजित: || 17||
Transliteration:

kAshyashca parameShvAsah shikhanDI ca mahArathaH.

dhriShTadyumno virATashca sAtyakishcAparAjitaH..17..

             Click here to listen to the verse

Word by word meaning:

काश्यश्च – and the king of Kashi; परमेष्वास: - who is a great archer; शिखण्डी च -  and Shikandi; महारथ: -  who is a mahArathi; धृष्टद्युम्नो – Dhrishtadyumna; विराटश्च -  and king Virata; सात्यकिश्च – and sAtyaki; अपराजितः -is invincible;

Meaning :

( Thus following them ) The king of Kashi – a great archer ; Shikandi – a mahArathi; Dhrishtadyumna , King Virata and Satyaki who are invincible (blew their conch-shells)

Significance:

Sanjaya then lists out the mighty warriors in the pAndava army, who started blowing the conch-shells following the pAndavas. He mentions few names like – King of Kashi, Shikandi, Dhrishtadyumna, King Virata and Satyaki – as he wish to indicate King Dhirtharashtra that – with theses mighty warriors in their army, Victory is already in the side of PAndavas. Shikandi’s purpose of life is to be the reason of Bhishma’s death and Dhrishtadyumna is born to kill Guru Drona. Them being on the opposition army, how can Dhritharashtra wish for the victory of Kaurava army. Shikandi was brought up as a man right from birth, trained in warfare. The purpose of participation of Shikandi in this war is to take revenge on Bhishma which has been holded from the previous birth.

Chapter1 Verse - 16

 

Verse 16:

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: |
नकुल: सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ || 16||

Transliteration:

Anantavijayam rAjA kuntIputro yudhiShThiraH.

nakulaH sahadevashca sughoShamaNipuShpakau..16..

Click here to listen to the verse

Word-by-word meaning:

अनन्तविजयं – Anantavijayam, conch-shell of yudhishtira; राजा – King; कुन्तीपुत्रो – Son of Kunti; युधिष्ठिर: -Yudhishtira; नकुल: - Nakula; सहदेवश्च- and SahAdeva; सुघोष-मणिपुष्पकौ – SughoSha and Manipushpaka;

Meaning:

King Yudhishtira, blew his Conch-shell anantavijayam ; Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conch-shells – SughoSha and ManipuShpaka respectively.

Significance:

Ananta-vijayam: The conch-shell of Yudhishtira, the name of the conch is ‘ Endless victory ‘ . The sign that Yudhishtira will have his victory in this war too. Sanjaya uses the word “rAjA” to address yudhishtira, as he has successfully performed the RajasUya yagna. His nature has been the same, in the path of righteousness when he was in the palace, when he was in the forest or when he was humiliated ! Yudihshtira is addressed as Kunti-putra , as in this verse – Nakula and Sahadeva are mentioned. They are the sons of Madhri, who left the world along with Pandu.

Chapter1 Verse - 15

 

Verse - 15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जय: |
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदर: || 15||

Transliteration :

pAnchajanyam hriShIkesho devadattam dhananjayaH.

Paundram dadhmau mahAshankham bhImakarmA vrukodaraH ..15..

Click here to listen to the verse

Word-by-word meaning:

पाञ्चजन्यं – pAnchajanyam; हृषीकेशो – Hrishikehsa; देवदत्तं – Devadatta; धनञ्जय: - Dhanjanjya; पौण्ड्रं – paundram; दध्मौ – blew; महाशङ्खं – great conch-shells; भीमकर्मा – one who performs great tasks; वृकोदर: - one who has great capacity to imbibe food;

Meaning:

Hrishikesha blew his PAnchajanya, Dhananjaya blew his Devadatta , and Bhima, a person who does terrific deeds and has a great capacity to imbibe food, blew his Paundra conch-shell.

Significance:

PAncajanya : PAncajanya is the conch-shell of Lord Krishna. Lord Vishnu holds the PAnchajanya conch in one of his hands. It is told- Krishna completed his education under Rishi Sandipani. The sage did not accept any dakshina. Krishna came to know that the sage’s son was abducted by a demon – ShankAsura (who was a demon in the form of conch-shell) or panjajana from the fellow disciples. He decided to rescue him as the Gurudakshina for Rishi Sandipani. He went deep into the sea where the demon was, fought and defeated him. Lord Krishna took his conch and named it after the demon, as a sign of victory.

Devadatta : Devadatta is the conch-shell of Arjuna. It was gifted by Lord Varuna, for his Penance.

Paundram: The terrific conch-shell of Bhima, it produced deafening noise whenever it is blown by Bhima.

Hrishikesha : Krishna is addressed as  Hrishikesha –which means Lord of senses.

Dhananjaya: Dhananjaya , is another name for Arjuna, which means one who is the conqueror of wealth. Usage of this name in the verse indicates his victory over the opposition army.

VrikodaraH : Vrikodara, is another name for Bhima. The usage of this name in this verse can mean he is a person of terrible deeds or he whose appetite is voracious just like a wolf's.

Chapter1 Verse - 14

 

Verse-14

तत: श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ |

माधव: पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतु: || 14||

Transliteration:

tataH shvethairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau.

mAdhavaH pANDavashcaiva divyau shankau pradadhmatuH..14..

                                        Click here to listen to the verse

Word-by-word meaning:

तत: - then; श्वेतै: - (with)white; र्हयै: - (with)horses; र्युक्ते – equipped with; महति – (in) great; स्यन्दने – chariot; स्थितौ – being ; माधव: - MAdhava; पाण्डव: - pAndavaH; श्चैव – and; दिव्यौ – divine; शङ्खौ – Conch-shells; प्रदध्मतु: - blew;

Meaning:

Then, MAdhava(Krishna) and PAndava(Arjuna), who are in the great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conch-shells.

Significance:

                             On the other side of the battle field, is Lord Krishna and Arjuna, who on hearing the tumultuous sound of the instruments of the opposite army, blew their conch-shells. The adjective here used is ‘दिव्यौ -which means divine’, they did not produce violent sounds, but blew the conch-shells, which are still used to invoke religious rituals. The postitivity produced by the sound of Conch-shells marked the beginning of the path to their victory.

                       Lord Krishna, here is mentioned as ‘MAdhava- which means ‘ one who bears the Goddess of fortune in his heart’. Here it is subtly indicated that the Goddess of fortune is on the side of PAndavas, i.e, on the side of Dharma. The word ‘स्थितौ – has many meanings like – standing, seated, established, leading, etc with respect to the context. Here it is used in the sense of Perseverance on the right path.

          पाण्डव – can be used for all the five sons of Pandu, here in this verse the word is used for Arjuna. The usage of the words  “स्थितौ  , दिव्यौ , शङ्खौ are in dual, which means they denote two persons. One is Krishna, which is mentioned as MAdhava, and the other is to be Arjuna. Shri Krishna agreed to be on the side of the PAndava-s, unarmed, and he also agreed to be the charioteer of Arjuna. The chariot of Arjuna was gifted by Agni deva, which was built by Vishwakarma. The chariot is meant to conquer the three worlds, thus this chariot is mentioned specifically , to mark that their victory is eminent.

Chapter1 Verse - 13

 

Verse 13

तत: शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखा: |
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् || 13||

Transliteration:

tataH shankAshca bheryashca paNavAnakagomukhAH.

sahasaivAbhyahanyanta sa shabdastumuloabhavat ..13..

            Click here to listen to the verse

Word-by-word meaning:

तत: - following that;शङ्खाः – conch-shells ; च – and; भेर्यः – bulges; च -and; पणव-Drums;  आनक​ – Kettle drums; गोमुखा: - trumpets; सहसा एव – all together; अभ्यहन्यन्त – started suddenly ; स – that;शब्दः- sound- स्तुमुलः – tumultuous ;  अभवत्- was;

Meaning:

Following that, the sudden and combined sound of Conch-shells,Bulges, Drums, Kettle-drums,Trumpets became tumultuous and violently noisy.

Significance:

                        On hearing the sound of the conch-shell of Bhishma, the soldiers in the Kaurava army became happy. They gave their assurance to Duryodhana by blowing the various instruments with them. This verse beautifully picturises the war-scene. The usage of the instruments like – drums, kettle-drums, trumpets,bulges by ancient Indians is recorded in this verse.

                             The word ‘tumula’ – can be used here in two places. The sound created by the various instruments , when combined together , created a violent noise . It can also be seen as an adjective for the environment. The noise created by various instruments awakened the violent nature in the mindset of the warriors, including Duryodhana, as we saw he was confused, he lacked confidence. This violent nature is needed for the warriors who are standing in the warfield to do their duty.

Chapter1 Verse - 12

 

Verse 12

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्ध: पितामह: |
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चै: शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् || 12||

Transliteration:

Tasya sanjanayanharSham kuruvruddhaH pitAmahaH.

simhanAdam vinadyoccaiH shankham dadhmau praapavAn..12..

        Click hear to listen this verse

Word-by-word meaning:

तस्य -his; सञ्जनयन्-to cause; हर्षम्-happiness; कुरु- did;वृद्ध:-old-man; पितामह: -grand-father; सिंहनादं-lion’s roar; विनद्य – that sounds;उच्चै:-loudly; शङ्खं-conch-shell; दध्मौ-blew vigorously; प्रतापवान् -glorious;

Meaning:

The old-man of Kuru dynasty, their grand-father, the glorious BhIshma, vigorously blew his conch-shell, that sounds like a lion’s roar, to cause happiness/to kindle joy to Duryodhana.

Significance:

                            This verse tells us the external dependency of Duryodhana’s mind. He being perplexed on seeing the army of PAndava-s, utters many things to his teacher Dronacarya. BhIshma who was there realised that the leader is getting deviated from his duty, which is not good for their army, blew his conch-shell, to cause a joy to Duryodhana. He wanted to reassure that the army stands by his side.

                             Conch-Shell is considered as an auspicious symbol in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu has a conch in his hand. IT is also closely associated with Lord Shiva. Conch is seen as the symbol of life, as it comes out of water. It is considered as the symbol the panca-bhUta-s – fire,earth,water, air and land. The sound from conch is considered sacred as it resembles the sound ‘OM’. Blowing of conch-shell is being followed in Hindu tradition while performing Pooja-s. Each and every activity in Hindu tradition is associated with science. There has been some scientific theories too in the action of blowing a conch. There has been some papers too submitted that the sound from the conch and its vibrations helps to activate the nervous system. The sound vibrations helps in curing lung diseases too. The powder from conch is used in Ayurveda too.