The verse

Bhagavad Gita 1.17BG 1.17 · Chapter 1, Verse 17

Arjuna Vishada Yoga

A story moment · grounding in mood · easy to enter

“Names and conches turn hesitation into commitment.”

The verse
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥

The great archer from Kashi, Shikhandi the great warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and invincible Satyaki.

— Sanjaya
Bhagavad Gita · 1.17
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे राजन् श्रेष्ठ धनुषवाले काशिराज और महारथी शिखण्डी तथा धृष्टद्युम्न एवं राजा विराट और अजेय सात्यकि, राजा द्रुपद और द्रौपदी के पाँचों पुत्र तथा लम्बीलम्बी भुजाओंवाले सुभद्रापुत्र अभिमन्यु इन सभी ने सब ओर से अलगअलग अपनेअपने शंख बजाये ॥
Themes:KurukshetraSanjaya
Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.

काशीःthe king of Kashiचandपरमेष्वासःsupreme archerशिखण्डीShikhandiचandमहारथःgreat warriorधृष्टद्युम्नःDhrishtadyumnaविराटःVirataचandसात्यकिःSatyakiचandअपराजितःinvincible

Read literallythe king of Kashi · and · supreme archer · Shikhandi · and · great warrior · Dhrishtadyumna · Virata · and · Satyaki · and · invincible

Understanding the verse

Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and Satyaki join in, so every ally on the Pandava side is heard.

In plain words

What this verse means

This is a battlefield roll call. More warriors on the Pandava side blow their conches before the war begins.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

The Pandava allies answer the Kaurava conches with their own. Sanjaya lists more warriors as each one blows a conch, sharpening the moment before battle into a final, audible commitment.

In your life

What it looks like today

A room goes quiet before the announcement. One by one, the people who will stand with you are named, and the moment stops being theoretical.

The takeaway

“The scene builds tension: the war is no longer abstract; every name makes the confrontation real.”

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Arjuna's despair on the battlefield of Kurukshetra
Chapter 1 · The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
47 verses
Read all verses in this chapter →

Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), sanjaya (16 verses)

Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 1.17 mean?

This is a battlefield roll call. More warriors on the Pandava side blow their conches before the war begins.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.17?

Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).

Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 1.17?

Verse 17 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.

Why does Bhagavad Gita 1.17 matter today?

A room goes quiet before the announcement. One by one, the people who will stand with you are named, and the moment stops being theoretical.

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