A story moment · grounding in mood · easy to enter
“The war begins in sound before a single strike.”
Hrisikesha Krishna blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima of mighty deeds blew the great conch Paundra.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyPanchajanya · Hrisikesha · Devadatta · Dhananjaya · Paundra · blew · great conch · one of mighty deeds · Bhimasena
Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima each blew their own conches as the battle began.
Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Verse 15 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
The room goes quiet before the hard announcement. Then one clear voice speaks, and everyone knows the moment has crossed into action.
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It shifts attention from the names and symbols to the irreversible step of commitment.
What this verse means
Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima each blew their own conches as the battle began.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, the two armies are already formed and the first conches have sounded. Sanjaya names the three great warriors on the Pandava side as their conches answer the call, marking the point where words end and battle begins.
Why this verse still matters
The room goes quiet before the hard announcement. Then one clear voice speaks, and everyone knows the moment has crossed into action.
“The moment is set by sound before the fighting starts.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)