Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 13

English Translation

Just immediately after that conchs and kettledrums, and tabors, trumpets and cow-horns blared forth. That sound became tumultuous.

Detailed Commentary

।।1.13।। Explanation -- "तatas śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ" -- Although Bhishmadeva did not blow his conch to initiate the war, he did so merely to please Duryodhana. Nevertheless, the Kaurava army regarded Bhishmadeva's conch sound as the declaration of war. Therefore, as soon as Bhishmadeva blew his *shankha*, all the *shankhas* and musical instruments of the Kaurava army blared forth simultaneously. *Shankhas* (conches) originate from the ocean. They are used in *puja* and *arati*. They are sounded at the beginning of auspicious ceremonies and wars. *Bheris* are a type of drum. They are made of iron and covered with buffalo hide. They are kept in temples and royal palaces and are played during festivals. At kings' residences, they are sounded daily. *Panavas* are a type of drum. They are made of iron or wood and covered with goat hide. Sounding them at the commencement of any endeavor is considered auspicious. *Anaka* is the name for a *mridanga*, also called a *pakhavaj*. *Gomukha* is known as a *narsinga*. They are curved like a snake and resemble a cow's mouth; they are played by blowing into them. The Kaurava army was filled with great enthusiasm; thus, as soon as Bhishma's *shankha* sounded, all the instruments blared forth simultaneously without delay. There was no delay in their sounding, nor did it require any effort to play them. "Sa śabdastu mulo'bhavat" (The sound was tumultuous) -- The sound of all the *shankhas* and instruments of the Kaurava army became extremely loud and formidable. Context -- At the beginning of this chapter, Dhritarashtra had asked Sanjaya what his sons and Pandu's sons did on the battlefield. Therefore, from the second to the thirteenth verse, Sanjaya described the actions of Dhritarashtra's sons. Now, from the next verse onwards, Sanjaya will describe the actions of Pandu's sons.