In Bhagavad Gita 1.18, Drupada, the sons of Draupadi and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu complete the chorus, each blowing his own conch.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च
सर्वशः पृथिवीपते
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः
शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥ १-१८ ॥
drupado draupadeyāśca
sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ
śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak
English transliteration drupado draupadeyaashcha
sarvashah prithiveepate
saubhadrashcha mahaabaahuh
shankhaandadhmuh prithakprithak ॥ 1.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O lord of the earth, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their own conches, each separately.
Verses 1.17–1.18 form one sentence: all these warriors blew their conches.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| द्रुपदः drupadaḥ | Drupada |
| द्रौपदेयाः draupadeyāḥ | the sons of Draupadī |
| च ca | and |
| सर्वशः sarvaśaḥ | all together |
| पृथिवीपते pṛthivīpate | O lord of the earth (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) pṛthivī (earth) + pate (O lord) |
| सौभद्रः saubhadraḥ | the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu) |
| च ca | and |
| महाबाहुः mahābāhuḥ | mighty-armed mahā (mighty) + bāhuḥ (arm) |
| शङ्खान् śaṅkhān | conches |
| दध्मुः dadhmuḥ | blew |
| पृथक् पृथक् pṛthak pṛthak | each separately |
Word-wise Chanting
- dru–pa–do drau–pa–de–yāś–ca 8 syllables dru-pa-do drau-pa-de-yaash-cha
- sar–va–śaḥ pṛ–thi–vī–pa–te | 8 syllables sar-va-shah pri-thi-vee-pa-te
- sau–bhad–raś–ca ma–hā–bā–huḥ 8 syllables sau-bhad-rash-cha ma-haa-baa-huh
- śaṅ–khān–dadh–muḥ pṛ–thak–pṛ–thak || 1-18 8 syllables shan-khaan-dadh-muh pri-thak-pri-thak
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 18
Context
This verse completes the sentence begun in 1.17 and ends the Pandava roll call.
Meaning
Sanjaya addresses Dhritarashtra as “lord of the earth,” perhaps with quiet irony: the blind king who claims the earth is listening to the sounds of the army that will take it from his sons. The phrase “each separately” emphasises that every Pandava warrior answered the call personally. Their response is not a single wave of noise, as on the Kaurava side (1.13), but many clear, distinct voices.
A community of conscience is made of individuals who each choose to stand. No one can sound another’s conch. In the spiritual life too, the call must be answered personally, in one’s own voice. The Gita is addressed to one person, Arjuna, and through him to each reader individually.
In Practice
Identify one value you hold that you have never expressed aloud. Find a simple way today to state it in your own voice.
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.