Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and mighty Abhimanyu each blew their conches separately, O lord of the earth.
— Sanjaya
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.18
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
द्रुपदःDrupadaद्रौपदेयाःDraupadi's sonsचandसर्वशःall togetherपृथिवीपतेO lord of the earthसौभद्रःAbhimanyu, son of Subhadraचandमहाबाहुःmighty-armedशङ्खान्conchesदध्मुःblewपृथक् पृथक्separately each
Read literallyDrupada · Draupadi's sons · and · all together · O lord of the earth · Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra · and · mighty-armed · conches · blew · separately each
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from silent fear to visible resolve before action begins.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and Abhimanyu each blew their conches. The Pandava side answers the Kaurava side with a full display of strength.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, the Pandava allies answer the enemy's gathering with their own conches. Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and Abhimanyu sound their horns one by one, showing that Arjuna is not alone before the war begins.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
A room goes quiet before you speak up against something wrong. Your voice may tremble, but the moment you join in, everyone knows you are not backing down.
The takeaway
“Strength can be announced before a single blow is struck.”
Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and Abhimanyu each blew their conches. The Pandava side answers the Kaurava side with a full display of strength.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.18?
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 1.18?
Verse 18 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 1.18 matter today?
A room goes quiet before you speak up against something wrong. Your voice may tremble, but the moment you join in, everyone knows you are not backing down.
It shifts attention from silent fear to visible resolve before action begins.
What this verse means
Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and Abhimanyu each blew their conches. The Pandava side answers the Kaurava side with a full display of strength.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, the Pandava allies answer the enemy's gathering with their own conches. Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and Abhimanyu sound their horns one by one, showing that Arjuna is not alone before the war begins.
Why this verse still matters
A room goes quiet before you speak up against something wrong. Your voice may tremble, but the moment you join in, everyone knows you are not backing down.
“Strength can be announced before a single blow is struck.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)