Chapter 1, Verse 13 (Bhagavad Gita 1.13)
Chapter 1: Arjun Viṣhād Yog – Arjuna's Dilemma
Sanskrit Shloka
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
Transliteration
tataḥ śhaṅkhāśhcha bheryaśhcha paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śhabdastumulo ’bhavat
Word Meanings
tataḥ—thereafter; śhaṅkhāḥ—conches; cha—and; bheryaḥ—bugles; cha—and; paṇava-ānaka—drums and kettledrums; go-mukhāḥ—trumpets; sahasā—suddenly; eva—indeed; abhyahanyanta—blared forth; saḥ—that; śhabdaḥ—sound; tumulaḥ—overwhelming; abhavat—was
Translation
Then, suddenly, conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums, and cow horns blared forth from the Kaurava side, and the sound was tremendous.
Meaning & Commentary
The sudden, thunderous cacophony symbolizes the ego's desperate attempt to assert dominance and suppress internal anxiety through external noise. This represents the loud, chaotic clamor of worldly attachments that aim to drown out the subtle voice of conscience before a transformative conflict.