Duryodhana while witnessing the strength of the Pāṇḍavas army supported by the might of Bhīmā weighed his own armies strength under the command of Bhīshma

and perceiving the mood of his preceptor Droṇāchārya, he could understand the inadequacy in his own troops and the perfection of strength on the Pāṇḍavas side to be victorious and internally this aggrieved him heavily.

Bhīshma seeing all this gave a roar like a lion and blew a mighty, reverberating blast on his conch-shell which was followed by a tumultuous beating of drums, blaring of horns and blasting of conch-shells as if indicative of the victory in order to cheer up Duryodhana.

Immediately upon hearing this Lord Krishna and Arjuna seated in their majestic chariot capable of conquering all the worlds; both seized their conch-shells and reverberated a sound that shook all the worlds.

Thereafter Bhīmā, Yudhisṭhīra, Nākula and Sahadeva and the rest of the mahā-rathas of the Pāṇḍava army blew their conch-shells

and the roar which was heard cleaved the hearts of Duryodhana and the army of the Kaurāvas and in their hearts they felt that the battle was already lost.

Thus did Sanjaya narrate to Dhritarāshtra whose only concern was for the success of his son Duryodhana and the Kaurāvas in the battle.

14 "Thereupon, seated in an ample chariot with white steeds yoked, (Kṛṣṇa, the) Mādhava and (Arjuna, the) Pāṇḍava blew forth their celestial conches: 15 "Hṛṣīkeśa (=Kṛṣṇa) blew the Pāñcajanya and Dhanamjaya (=Arjuna) the Devadatta. Vṛkodara (=Bhīma) of terrific deeds blew his great Paundra conch; 16 "King Yudhiṣṭhira the son of Kuntī (blew) the Anantavijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva (respectively) the Sughoṣa and the Manipuṣpaka. (137)

While such was the state in the heavens at seeing this panic, hear what took place on this side in the Pāṇḍava army. How can one adequately describe the chariot which was the very soul of victory and the very store of intense splendour; the chariot had four horses (powerful like Garud) harnessed to it. Such a chariot appeared like a winged Meru (mountain) and brightened all the ten directions with its powerful lustre. How to describe fully the qualities of such a chariot of which Lord Krishna of Vaikuntha had himself become the charioteer (coachman)? Māruti—God Shankara incarnate—was guarding the flag staff while God Shārangdhar was the charioteer with Arjuna in the chariot. Just see and admire the Lord: how wonderful is his affection for his devotees and in consequence how he is doing the charioteer's duties towards Pārtha? Lord Krishna placed his devotee at his back; himself remaining in the forefront easily he blew his conch named Pāñcajanya. As the dreadful sound of the conch was awfully going round it drowned and made inaudible the sounds of the martial music sounded in the Kaurav Army, just as the stars become invisible with the rise of the Sun. Simultaneously Pārtha sounded his own conch Devadatta making a great noise. Just as the sounds of both these wonderful conches blended together it was felt as if the universe was being pounded into hundreds of pieces. Just then Bhīmasena got enthused as if the great Destroyer had excited him and he blew his own big conch named Poundra. It created a dreadful thunder just as the clouds do at the dissolution of the world; Yudhiṣṭhira sounded his own conch named Anantavijaya; so also Nakula his own named Sughosha and Sahadev Manipushpa.

'Pāñcajanyam hṛṣikeśaḥ'—'Hṛṣikeśa', means the master of mind and senses, Lord Kṛṣṇa who pervades the mind and intellect of all viz., who is acquainted with the hearts of all the people, arranged on the side of the Pāṇḍavas, blew his conch named Pāñcajanya. Lord Kṛṣṇa having killed demon named Pāñcajana who appeared in the form of a conch, used him as a conch. So His conch was named as 'Pāñcajanya.'

'Devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ'—The word 'Dhanañjaya means conqueror of wealth. At the time of the holy sacrifice named Rājasūya, Arjuna took over wealth of many rulers on gaining victory, over them. So Arjuna was called 'Dhanañjaya.'* Indra, the king of gods, gave Arjuna the conch named Devadatta, while he was fighting with demons named Nivātakavaca etc. It produced such a loud and horrifying sound that the army of the enemies became terror-struck. This conch was blown by Arjuna.

'Paundraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ'—Bhīma, was named 'Bhīmakarmā (doer of tremendous deeds) because he killed demons, such as Hiḍimba, Baka and Jaṭa etc., and valiant warriors, such as Kīcaka and Jarāsandha etc. In his belly, besides the heat which helps to digest food, there was a special fire, named 'Vṛka' which digested a lot of food, very easily. It was because of his great digestive power, that he was named 'Vṛkodara.' Thus, Bhīma who was the doer of terrific deeds and possessed strong digestive power, blew his mighty conch, Paundra.

परी तो महाघोषु थोरु । गाजत असे गंहिरु । जैसा उदैला लोपि दिनकरु । नक्षत्रांते ॥ १४४॥

तैसें तुरबंबाळु भंवते । कौरवदळी गाजत होते । ते हारपोनि नेणों केऊते । गेले तेथ ॥ १४५॥

तैसाचि देखे येरें । निनादें अति गंहिरे । देवदत्त धनुर्धरे । आस्फुरिला ॥ १४६॥

ते दोनी शब्द अचाट । मिनले एकवट । तेथ ब्रह्मकटाह शतकूट । हों पाहत असे ॥ १४७॥

तंव भीमसेनु विसणैला । जैसा महाकाळु खवळला । तेणें पौंड्र आस्फुरिला । महाशंखु ॥ १४८॥

(1.137) यह कोलाहल देखकर स्वर्ग में जब यह हाल हुआ तब पाण्डवों के दल में क्या हो रहा था?

(1.138) जो मानों विजयश्री का सारभूत अथवा सूर्य के तेज का भाण्डार है, जिसमें गरुड़ की बराबरी करनेवाले चार घोड़े जुते हैं।

(1.139) अथवा जो सपक्ष मेरु पर्वत के समान दिखाई देता है वह रथ वहाँ शोभा दे रहा था। उसके तेज से चारों दिशाएँ भर गई थीं।

(1.140) जिस रथ का सारथी वैकुण्ठ का राजा था उसके गुणों का मैं क्या वर्णन करूँ।

(1.141) अर्जुन के ध्वजस्तंभ पर हनुमान विराजे हैं। वह स्वयं मूर्तिमान् शंकर है और श्रीकृष्ण उसके सारथी हैं। (1.142) उस प्रभु का नवल भक्तप्रेम देखिए कि वह पार्थ का सारथीपन कर रहा है,

(1.143) तथा सेवक को पीछे रख आप आगे हो खड़ा है। उसने सहज-लीला से अपना पाञ्चजन्य शंख फूँका।

(1.144) उसका महाघोष गम्भीरता से गरजने लगा। सूर्य उदय होते ही जैसे नक्षत्रों का लोप हो जाता है,

(1.145) वैसे ही महाघोष होते ही कौरव-सेना में रणवाद्य चहुँओर गरज रहे थे वे न जाने कहाँ लुप्त हो गये।

(1.146) फिर देखिए, अर्जुन ने भी बड़ी गर्जना के साथ देवदत्त नामक शंख बजाया।

(1.147) उस समय दोनों अद्भुत ध्वनियाँ इकट्ठी मिलते ही सब ब्रह्माण्ड मानों टुकड़े-टुकड़े होने लगा।

(1.148) तब भीमसेन को भी आवेश चढ़ा और उसने महाकाल के समान क्षुब्ध हो पौण्ड्र नामक महाशंख बजाया।

(1.149) वह प्रलयकाल के मेघ के समान गम्भीरता से गड़गड़ा रहा था। इतने में युधिष्ठिर ने अनन्तविजय नामक शंख फूँका।

(1.150) नकुल ने सुधोष और सहदेव ने मणिपुष्पक शंख फूँके

‘पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशः’—सबके अन्तर्धामी अर्थात् सबके भीतरकी बात जाननेवाले साक्षात् भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने पाण्डवोंके पक्षमें खड़े होकर ‘पांचजन्य’ नामक शंख बजाया। भगवान्ने पंचजन नामक शंखरूपधारी दैत्यको मारकर उसको शंखरूपसे ग्रहण किया था, इसलिये इस शंखका नाम ‘पांचजन्य’ हो गया।

‘देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः’—राजसूय यज्ञके समय अर्जुनने बहुत-से राजाओंको जीतकर बहुत धन इकट्ठा किया था। इस कारण अर्जुनका नाम ‘धनंजय’ पड़ गया। निवातकवचादि दैत्योंके साथ युद्ध करते समय इन्द्रने अर्जुनको ‘देवदत्त’ नामक शंख दिया था। इस शंखकी ध्वनि बड़े जोरसे होती

थी, जिससे शत्रुओंकी सेना घबरा जाती थी। इस शंखको अर्जुनने बजाया।

‘पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः’— हिडिम्बासुर, बकासुर, जटासुर आदि असुरों तथा कीचक, जरासन्ध आदि बलवान् वीरोंको मारनेके कारण भीमसेनका नाम ‘भीमकर्मा’ पड़ गया। उनके पेटमें जठरागिनके सिवाय ‘वृक’ नामकी एक विशेष अग्नि थी, जिससे बहुत अधिक भोजन पचता था। इस कारण उनका नाम ‘वृकोदर’ पड़ गया। ऐसे भीमकर्मा वृकोदर भीमसेनने बहुत बड़े आकारवाला ‘पौण्ड्र’ नामक शंख बजाया।

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।