BG 1.12
To Duryodhana's delight, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty let out a lion's roar and loudly blew his conch.
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्
Bhishma roars and blows his conch, which is widely interpreted as his tacit approval of the war's commencement. However, the Mahabharata events immediately following the Bhagavad Gita chapters do not support this interpretation - on several occasions, he states his reluctance to fight for the Kauravas or to bring injury upon any Kuru princes (both the Pandavas and the Kauravas).
The most logical interpretation of this verse is that Bhishma can sense Duryodhana's despondency, and out of familial affection, is attempting to lift his spirits. Before the warfare begins, Bhishma gives his blessings to Duryodhana's rivals and assures them of their eventual victory. On his deathbed, he gives a long and detailed discourse to Duryodhana's chief rival Yudhishthira. Bhishma's silence speaks for itself at this point of the story - as someone who is firmly committed to speaking truthfully at all times, there is nothing truthful that he might say to reassure Duryodhana.
tasya sañjanayan harṣhaṁ
The word harṣam is associated with material pleasure, enjoyment, and cheerfulness. In Sanskrit texts like the Srimad Bhagavatam, this word is often used to describe the ephemeral interactions of the mind with the various modes of material nature. In the context of this verse, Duryodhana's ephemeral happiness (equivalent to the joy of acquiring material wealth or some other temporary pleasure) is bolstered by the roar of Bhishma's conch and his voice. Meanwhile, his Pandava rivals are firmly entrenched in the knowledge that they are fighting for the sake of righteousness.
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tasya — his
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sañjanayan — causing, increasing
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harṣhaṁ — cheerfulness
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kuru-vṛiddhaḥ — Bhishma
Refers to Bhishma as "grandsire of the Kurus"-
kuru — Kuru
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vṛiddhaḥ — an old, eminent, venerable man
वृद्ध
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pitāmahaḥ — grandfather
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siṁha-nādaṁ — roaring like a lion
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siṁha — lion
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nādaṁ — sound
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vinadyochchaiḥ — loudly vibrating
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vinady — vibrating
From vinadya -
ochchaiḥ — very loudly
From uccaiḥ
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śhaṅkhaṁ — conch shell
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dadhmau — blew
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pratāpavān — the valiant
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pratāpa — dignity, majesty, glory
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vān — full of
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To Duryodhana's delight, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty let out a lion's roar and loudly blew his conch. Suddenly, all the conches, drums, trumpets, and horns blared forth a tumultuous uproar. Then, from a glorious chariot yoked with white horses, Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conch shells. Krishna blew a conch named Panchajanya, Arjuna blew a conch named Devadatta, and Bhima blew the great conch named Paundra. Yudhisthira blew his conch Anantavijay, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches. The King of Kashi, wielding a great bow, the mighty warrior Shikandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virat, and the invincible Satyaki, Drupad, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty Abhimanyu, all blew their respective conch shells. That tumultuous uproar reverberated through heaven and earth, and shattered the hearts of your sons. Seeing Dhritirashtra's sons arrayed for war, Arjuna picked up his bow and spoke the following words to Krishna.
Similar verses
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Yudhisthira blew his conch Anantavijay, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches.
- Verse 1.16
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...Drupad, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty Abhimanyu, all blew their respective conch shells.
- Verse 1.18
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In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the other kings, Krishna said "behold, the Kuru dynasty has gathered".
- Verse 1.25
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Krishna blew a conch named Panchajanya, Arjuna blew a conch named Devadatta, and Bhima blew the great conch named Paundra.
- Verse 1.15
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Then, from a glorious chariot yoked with white horses, Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conch shells.
- Verse 1.14