In Bhagavad Gita 1.15, the named conches sound: Krishna blows Panchajanya, Arjuna blows Devadatta, and Bhima blows his mighty conch Paundra.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो
देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं
भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥ १-१५ ॥
pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo
devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ
pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ
bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ
English transliteration paanchajanyam hrisheekesho
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau mahaashankham
bheemakarmaa vrikodarah ॥ 1.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Hrishikesha blew the conch Panchajanya; Dhananjaya blew Devadatta; and Vrikodara (Bhima), of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पाञ्चजन्यम् pāñcajanyam | the conch named Pāñcajanya |
| हृषीकेशः hṛṣīkeśaḥ | Hṛṣīkeśa, lord of the senses (Kṛṣṇa) |
| देवदत्तम् devadattam | the conch named Devadatta |
| धनञ्जयः dhanañjayaḥ | Dhanañjaya, winner of wealth (Arjuna) |
| पौण्ड्रम् pauṇḍram | the conch named Pauṇḍra |
| दध्मौ dadhmau | blew |
| महाशङ्खम् mahāśaṅkham | the great conch mahā (great) + śaṅkham (conch) |
| भीमकर्मा bhīmakarmā | of terrible deeds bhīma (terrible) + karmā (deeds) |
| वृकोदरः vṛkodaraḥ | Vṛkodara, wolf-bellied (Bhīma) vṛka (wolf) + udaraḥ (belly) |
Word-wise Chanting
- pāñ–ca–jan–yaṃ hṛ–ṣī–ke–śo 8 syllables paan-cha-jan-yam hri-shee-ke-sho
- de–va–dat–taṃ dha–nañ–ja–yaḥ | 8 syllables de-va-dat-tam dha-nan-ja-yah
- pauṇ–ḍraṃ dadh–mau ma–hā–śaṅ–khaṃ 8 syllables paun-dram dadh-mau ma-haa-shan-kham
- bhī–ma–kar–mā vṛ–ko–da–raḥ || 1-15 8 syllables bhee-ma-kar-maa vri-ko-da-rah
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 15
Context
Continuing from 1.14, Sanjaya names the conches of the Pandava leaders one by one.
Meaning
Each conch has a name, and each warrior an epithet that reveals his nature. Krishna is Hrishikesha, master of the senses: the one who rules the senses guides the whole chariot. Arjuna is Dhananjaya, winner of wealth, and his conch Devadatta means “given by the gods.” Bhima is Vrikodara, the wolf-bellied, a warrior of tremendous appetite and strength, and his conch Paundra resounds with power.
The naming contrasts with the anonymous din of the Kaurava side. On the Pandava side every voice is distinct and meaningful. Inwardly, a life guided by the Self is not a confused noise but a harmony of distinct capacities, each sounding its own note in its own time.
In Practice
Name three of your own strengths, as specifically as the Gita names these conches. Choose one to use with full intention today.
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.