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“A single sound can break resolve before battle begins.”
That terrible sound split the hearts of Dhritarashtra's side, echoing through sky and earth.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallythat · sound · of Dhritarashtra's sons · hearts · split · sky · and · earth · and · indeed · terrible, loud · resounding
The loud blast from the Pandava army shook the Kaurava side so deeply that it felt like the sky and earth were trembling too.
Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Verse 19 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
At a district cricket final, the other team walks out to a roar from its supporters, and your side goes pale before a ball is bowled. Sanjaya records that same dread among the Kauravas.
Did you like this verse?
The Pandava conches split the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons, and the sound echoes through sky and earth.
What this verse means
The loud blast from the Pandava army shook the Kaurava side so deeply that it felt like the sky and earth were trembling too.
Context & commentary
Sanjaya describes the effect on Duryodhana's side just after the Pandava horns sound. The blast is so overwhelming that it seems to split their hearts and fill the whole field with dread before the fighting starts.
What it looks like today
At a district cricket final, the other team walks out to a roar from its supporters, and your side goes pale before a ball is bowled. Sanjaya records that same dread among the Kauravas.
“Some moments hit before any sword is raised. The body knows the battle has already begun.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), duryodhana (12 verses)