BG 1.14
Then, from a glorious chariot yoked with white horses, Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conch shells.
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः
The narrative perspective now shifts away from Duryodhana and the Kaurava army, to the Pandavas that oppose them - specifically to Arjuna, who sits upon a magnificent chariot.
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaśhchaiva
While the term Pandava can be used in reference to any of the five sons of Pandu, this verse is specifically referring to Arjuna. The deity Krishna, who serves as Arjuna's charioteer, may also be referred to by several different names - the specific epithet mādhav, which literally translates as "husband to the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi", may be to add a subtle dual meaning of this phrase as "the Pandavas, endowed with luck and prosperity", or it may have simply been chosen to fit the anuṣṭubh meter of this verse.
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ततः
tataḥ — then
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श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते
śhvetairhayairyukte — being yoked by white horses
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śhvetair — with white
From śvetaiḥ -
hayair — horses
From hayaiḥ -
yukte — being yoked
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महति
mahati — glorious
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स्यन्दने
syandane — chariot
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स्थितौ
sthitau — seated
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माधवः
mādhavaḥ — Krishna
One of the primary epithets of Krishna, meaning "lord of fortune". Alternately, according to Adi Shankara's commentary, it can mean "husband of the mother of the universe" (i.e. Lakshmi). -
pāṇḍavaśhchaiva — and certainly Arjuna
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pāṇḍava — Arjuna
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cha — and
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iva — certainly
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divyau — transcendental, divine
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śhaṅkhau — conch shells
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pradadhmatuḥ — were sounded
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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Hearing Arjuna's request, Krishna drew up his magnificent chariot between the two armies.
- Verse 1.24
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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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...Drupad, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty Abhimanyu, all blew their respective conch shells.
- Verse 1.18
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From a chariot in the middle of two great armies, Krishna smiled at the grief-stricken Arjuna, and spoke these words.
- Verse 2.10
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Yudhisthira blew his conch Anantavijay, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches.
- Verse 1.16