FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 1.12

తస్య సఞ్జనయన్హర్షం కురువృద్ధః పితామహః । సింహనాదం వినద్యోచ్చ‍ైః శఙ్ఖం దధ్మౌ ప్రతాపవాన్ ॥ ౧౨ ॥
tasya sañjanayan harṣaṁ
[tasya sanjanayan harsham]
kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
[kuru-vriddhah pitaamahah]
siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ
[simha-naadam vinadyochchaih]
śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān
[shankham dadhmau prataapavaan]
Word-for-word
tasya — his sañjanayan — increasing harṣam — cheerfulness kuru - vṛddhaḥ — the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma) pitāmahaḥ — the grandfather siṁha - nādam — roaring sound, like that of a lion vinadya — vibrating uccaiḥ — very loudly śaṅkham — conchshell dadhmau — blew pratāpa - vān — the valiant .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasya sañjanayan harṣaṁ
tasya
his
sañjanayan
increasing
harṣam
cheerfulness
kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
kuru - vṛddhaḥ
the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma)
pitāmahaḥ
the grandfather
siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ
siṁha - nādam
roaring sound, like that of a lion
vinadya
vibrating
uccaiḥ
very loudly
śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān
śaṅkham
conchshell
dadhmau
blew
pratāpa - vān
the valiant .
Important Words
  • kuru - vṛddhaḥ — the eldest of the Kurus
    *Vṛddha* — old, grown, increased. The same root as *Vṛddha-Garga*, *vṛddhi*. Bhīṣma is the *vṛddha* — the elder by years and by dharmic seniority. The Gītā at every step honours the principle: the *vṛddha* speaks first.
  • pitāmahaḥ — the grandfather
    *Pitā* (father) + *maha* (great). Vyāsa keeps stacking Bhīṣma's honorifics: in one verse he is *kuru-vṛddha*, *pitāmaha*, *pratāpa-vān*. Three titles for one man, because the conch is being blown not by a soldier but by an institution.
  • siṁha - nādam — lion's roar
    *Siṁha* (lion) + *nāda* (sound). A specific kṣatriya sound — the lion-cry. Same image used elsewhere for great kings and ascetics alike. Bhīṣma is the *Kuru-siṁha*; the conch makes his voice audible across the field.
  • śaṅkham — conchshell
    *Śaṅkha* — the conch is the standard Vaiṣṇava emblem (Viṣṇu holds one in his upper-left hand). Vyāsa is quietly transferring the iconography: even the Kaurava grandsire's signal is, in essence, a Vaiṣṇava instrument. The Lord's symbols cannot be monopolized by His ostensible side.
  • pratāpa - vān — the valiant
    *Pratāpa* — fierce splendour, the heat of a king's authority. *-vān* — possessing. Same root *tap* (to heat, to burn) as *tapas*. Bhīṣma's valour is a *tapas*. His celibate vow is itself an inner fire, and the conch is the outward flame from that long-banked heat.
Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.
Purport

The grandsire of the Kuru dynasty could understand the inner meaning of the heart of his grandson Duryodhana, and out of his natural compassion for him he tried to cheer him by blowing his conchshell very loudly, befitting his position as a lion. Indirectly, by the symbolism of the conchshell, he informed his depressed grandson Duryodhana that he had no chance of victory in the battle, because the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa was on the other side. But still, it was his duty to conduct the fight, and no pains would be spared in that connection.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
12. Then the majestic elder among the Kurus, the grandfather, in order to bring joy to Duryodhana, making the sound of lion, blew his conch loudly.
Commentary

Bhīṣma, the elder of the Kurus, joyful on hearing respect given to him, and to produce joy in Duryodhana by driving away his fears, roaring like lion, blew his conch shell. The phrase siṁha-nādaṁ vinadya uses the same root nad twice. The literal meaning is “roaring the roar of a lion.” The intended meaning is “roaring like a lion,” according to the sūtra upamāne karmaṇi. (Aṣṭādhyāyī, Pāṇini 3.4.45)

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
12. Then the majestic elder among the Kurus, the grandfather, in order to bring joy to Duryodhana, making the sound of lion, blew his conch loudly.
Commentary

Then Bhīṣma in great joy, understanding that Duryodhana was praising him, blew his conch shell to drive away the inner fear of Duryodhana. The use of the phrase siṁha nādam vinadya is according to the Pāṇini rule upamāne karmaṇi ca. (Pāṇini 3.4.45) Ca refers to another sūtra to denote an agent as well as an object: kartary upamāne. (Pāṇini 3.2.79) It means “sounding like a lion.” [Note: A verb root with the suffix “am” can be used to mean “like.” Thus siṁha-nadam vinadya means that he blew his conch, sounding like a lion. Another example would be aja-nāśam nastaḥ: he perished like a goat (perishes).] Without saying a word, just by blowing his conch, Bhīṣma announced that he would give up his life according to kṣatriya dharma for Duryodhana, though victory or defeat was really dependent only on the Lord.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Duryodhana shows his expertise in firing‑up Bhisma, and Bhisma is responding by blowing the conchshell and get ready for the fight. Here is shown one of the various symbolisms that indicate the side of the victorious ‑ the conchshell blown by Bhisma. It indicates indirectly that the sons of Dhrtarastra have no chance of victory, because the conchshell is the symbol of Visnu or Krsna. Bhisma would do his best but the victory was not garanteed at all.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study Key verse
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Bhisma’s conchshell blown

Focus of Learning

(a) Bhisma indicates the following things to Duryodhana by his conchshell:

Blown out of natural compassion for grandson, Duryodhana
To cheer the fearful heart of Duryodhana
Befitting his position as lion
To assure that no pains would be spared in his duty to fight
Indirectly by the symbolism of conchshell, he informed his depressed grandson that he has

no chance of victory, because the Supreme Lord Krishna was on the other side.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
1.12 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
1.1 - 1.19 Dhrtarastra said - Sanjaya said Duryodhana, after viewing the forces of Pandavas protected by Bhima, and his own forces protected by Bhisma conveyed his views thus to Drona, his teacher, about the adeacy of Bhima's forces for conering the Kaurava forces and the inadeacy of his own forces for victory against the Pandava forces. He was grief-stricken within. Observing his (Duryodhana's) despondecny, Bhisma, in order to cheer him, roared like a lion, and then blowing his conch, made his side sound their conchs and kettle-drums, which made an uproar as a sign of victory. Then, having heard that great tumult, Arjuna and Sri Krsna the Lord of all lords, who was acting as the charioteer of Arjuna, sitting in their great chariot which was powerful enough to coner the three worlds; blew their divine conchs Srimad Pancajanya and Devadatta. Then, both Yudhisthira and Bhima blew their respective conchs separately. That tumult rent asunder the hearts of your sons, led by Duryodhana. The sons of Dhrtarastra then thought, 'Our cause is almost lost now itself.' So said Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra who was longing for their victory. Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: Then, seeing the Kauravas, who were ready for battle, Arjuna, who had Hanuman, noted for his exploit of burning Lanka, as the emblem on his flag on his chariot, directed his charioteer Sri Krsna, the Supreme Lord-who is overcome by parental love for those who take shelter in Him who is the treasure-house of knowledge, power, lordship, energy, potency and splendour, whose sportive delight brings about the origin, sustentation and dissolution of the entire cosmos at His will, who is the Lord of the senses, who controls in all ways the senses inner and outer of all, superior and inferior - by saying, 'Station my chariot in an appropriate place in order that I may see exactly my enemies who are eager for battle.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
1.12 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
1.12. His glorious grandsire (Bhishma), the oldest of the Kauravas, in order to cheer Duryodhana, now roared like a lion, and blew his conch.
Commentary

1.12 तस्य his (Duryodhanas)? संजयन् causing? हर्षम् joy? कुरुवृद्धः oldest of the Kurus? पितामहः grandfather? सिंहनादम् lions roar? विनद्य having sounded? उच्चैः loudly? शङ्खम् conch? दध्मौ blew? प्रतापवान् the glorious.No Commentary.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
1.12 The valiant grandfather, the eldest of the Kurus, loudly sounding a lion-roar, blew the conch to raise his (Duryodhana's) spirits.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
1.12 Then to enliven his spirits, the brave Grandfather Bheeshma, eldest of the Kuru-clan, blew his conch, till it sounded like a lion's roar.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Arjava (Simplicity / Straightforwardness)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)
Related verses
BG 1.14 BG 1.19 BG 2.2 SB 1.9.34 SB 1.9.1 SB 1.13.29 CC Ādi 7.23 CC Madhya 7.86 CC Antya 3.178 Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad 1Chāndogya Upaniṣad 1.1.1
Concepts
Dharma
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
A senior devotee's clear voice — like Bhīṣma's conch — re-anchors a bewildered community in dharma.
Practical Applications
  • Listen carefully when a senior Vaiṣṇava speaks; their words often carry more weight than their volume suggests.
  • When you feel scattered, return to Prabhupāda's recorded voice or letters for re-orientation.
  • Be the steady voice in your home or community when others are anxious.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'conch' do I rally to when I am bewildered?
  • Where am I called to be that steadying voice for someone else?
Analogy

An old lion's roar from the cliff at dusk does not threaten the prey — it cheers the cubs of his own pride. Bhīṣma's conch is no battle-cry first; it is grandfather's reassurance to a worried grandson.

Stories
Bhīṣma's lifelong vow

When his father Śāntanu loved the fisherwoman Satyavatī but could not marry her because of his prince's claim, the young Devavrata vowed before all to renounce the throne and to live celibate forever — so that Satyavatī's sons could inherit unchallenged. The gods, watching, called him *Bhīṣma*: "the man of the terrible vow."

For decades, this vow has held the Kuru house together — through the deaths of his half-brothers, the regency over his blind nephew, the rise of his great-nephews. Now, on the brink of the war he has tried to prevent, the old grandsire blows his conch like a lion's roar — *siṁha-nādam* — to cheer his despondent grandson Duryodhana. Behind the lion-sound is a sad love. The man who held the family together is now signalling its destruction. He blows the conch anyway, because his vow gave him no other place to stand.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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