Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 18

English Translation

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, and the son of Subhadra, (Abhimanyu) the mighty-armed all (of them) together, O king, blew their respective conchs.

Detailed Commentary

1.18. Commentary -- 'Kāśyaśca Parameṣvāsah... śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak' -- The Mahārathi Shikhandi was exceedingly valorous. In a previous birth, she was a woman (Amba, daughter of the King of Kashi) and in this birth, she was born as a daughter to King Drupada. Later, this very Shikhandi attained manhood (puruṣatva) from a Yaksha named Sthūṇākarṇa, thus becoming a male. Bhishma knew all these facts and still considered Shikhandi to be a woman. For this reason, he did not shoot arrows at him. During the battle, Arjuna placed Shikhandi in front and then shot arrows at Bhishma, causing him to fall from his chariot. Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, was extremely valorous. During the war, he entered the Chakravyuha (chakra formation) created by Drona and, with his prowess, annihilated many warriors. Ultimately, six Mahārathis of the Kaurava army unfairly surrounded him and attacked him with various weapons (shastra-astra). He met his demise when Dushasana's son struck him on the head with a mace (gadā). In describing the blowing of the conches (shankha-vādan), Sanjaya mentioned only Bhishma from among the warriors of the Kaurava army, whereas he named eighteen heroes from the Pandava army, including Bhagavan Shri Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima. From this, it appears that Sanjaya has no respect for the side of *adharma* (unrighteousness), the Kaurava army. Therefore, he does not consider it appropriate to describe the side of *adharma* at length. However, because of the reverence in his heart for the side of *dharma* (righteousness), the Pandava army, and his deep respect for Bhagavan Shri Krishna and the Pandavas, he deems it proper to describe their side more extensively, and he finds joy in narrating their side. Connection -- The effect of the Pandava army's conch-blowing on the Kaurava army will be described in the next verse.