In Bhagavad Gita 1.12, Bhishma, the mighty grandsire of the Kurus, roars like a lion and blows his conch loudly to cheer Duryodhana.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं
कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः
शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ १-१२ ॥
tasya sañjanayanharṣaṃ
kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ
śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
English transliteration tasya sanjanayanharsham
kuruvriddhah pitaamahah
simhanaadam vinadyochchaih
shankham dadhmau prataapavaan ॥ 1.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Then the mighty Bhishma, the eldest of the Kurus and grandsire of the family, roaring like a lion, blew his conch loudly, bringing joy to Duryodhana.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तस्य tasya | his (Duryodhana’s) |
| सञ्जनयन् sañjanayan | causing |
| हर्षम् harṣam | joy |
| कुरुवृद्धः kuruvṛddhaḥ | the eldest of the Kurus kuru (of the Kuru family) + vṛddhaḥ (the elder) |
| पितामहः pitāmahaḥ | the grandsire |
| सिंहनादम् siṃhanādam | a lion’s roar siṃha (lion) + nādam (roar) |
| विनद्य vinadya | roaring |
| उच्चैः uccaiḥ | loudly |
| शङ्खम् śaṅkham | conch |
| दध्मौ dadhmau | blew |
| प्रतापवान् pratāpavān | the mighty |
Word-wise Chanting
- tas–ya sañ–ja–na–yan–har–ṣaṃ 8 syllables tas-ya san-ja-na-yan-har-sham
- ku–ru–vṛd–dhaḥ pi–tā–ma–haḥ | 8 syllables ku-ru-vrid-dhah pi-taa-ma-hah
- siṃ–ha–nā–daṃ vi–nad–yoc–caiḥ 8 syllables sim-ha-naa-dam vi-nad-yoch-chaih
- śaṅ–khaṃ dadh–mau pra–tā–pa–vān || 1-12 8 syllables shan-kham dadh-mau pra-taa-pa-vaan
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 12
Context
Duryodhana has finished his anxious speech to Drona (1.3–1.11). Drona does not answer; instead Bhishma acts.
Meaning
Bhishma perceives the young king’s fear and answers it the only way a warrior can: with a roar and the call of the conch. He does not argue or offer counsel. The sound is meant to lift Duryodhana’s spirits and signal that the battle will be fought. It is an act of kindness toward a grandson, even though Bhishma knows the cause is unjust.
The conch is ancient India’s sound of beginning, used in worship as well as war. Here it marks the moment when hesitation ends and events take their course. Bhishma’s gesture is noble and tragic at once: he gives courage to a cause he cannot approve. The Gita lets us feel the cost of serving loyalty above truth.
In Practice
When someone near you is afraid, notice whether you comfort them toward what is right or simply toward what they want.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.