In Bhagavad Gita 1.19, the tremendous sound of the Pandava conches echoes through earth and sky and pierces the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s sons.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां
हृदयानि व्यदारयत्
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव
तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् ॥ १-१९ ॥
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ
hṛdayāni vyadārayat
nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva
tumulo’bhyanunādayan
English transliteration sa ghosho dhaartaraashtraanaam
hridayaani vyadaarayat
nabhashcha prithiveem chaiva
tumulo’bhyanunaadayan ॥ 1.19 ॥
Variant reading: तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्
Translation / Meaning
That tumultuous sound, resounding through the sky and the earth, tore the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सः saḥ | that |
| घोषः ghoṣaḥ | sound |
| धार्तराष्ट्राणाम् dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām | of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra |
| हृदयानि hṛdayāni | hearts |
| व्यदारयत् vyadārayat | tore, shattered |
| नभः nabhaḥ | the sky |
| च ca | and |
| पृथिवीम् pṛthivīm | the earth |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| तुमुलः tumulaḥ | tumultuous |
| अभ्यनुनादयन् abhyanunādayan | resounding, making echo |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa gho–ṣo dhār–ta–rāṣ–ṭrā–ṇāṃ 8 syllables sa gho-sho dhaar-ta-raash-traa-naam
- hṛ–da–yā–ni vya–dā–ra–yat | 8 syllables hri-da-yaa-ni vya-daa-ra-yat
- na–bhaś–ca pṛ–thi–vīṃ cai–va 8 syllables na-bhash-cha pri-thi-veem chai-va
- tu–mu–lo–‘bhya–nu–nā–da–yan || 1-19 8 syllables tu-mu-lo-‘bhya-nu-naa-da-yan
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 19
Context
The Pandava conches have all been sounded (1.14–1.18). Sanjaya now describes their effect on the Kauravas.
Meaning
Earlier the Kaurava instruments made a great noise, but Sanjaya says nothing of its effect on the Pandavas (1.13). Now the Pandava sound fills heaven and earth and tears the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s sons. The difference is not volume but conscience: those who know their cause is unjust are shaken from within.
A guilty heart hears every sound as a threat. Inner alignment brings a steadiness that external noise cannot disturb, while inner conflict makes us fragile. Sanjaya’s description is a quiet lesson in psychology: the strength of a cause is felt first in the hearts of those who oppose it.
In Practice
Notice one situation that unsettles you more than it should. Ask whether the disturbance comes from outside or from an unresolved conflict within.
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.