Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 1: Verses 12 - 19

The call of the conch

Tasya Sanjanayan Harsham Kuruvriddhah Pitamahaha
Simhanadam Vinadyochaih Shankham Dadhmau Pratapavan

Tatah Shankhascha Bheryascha Panavanaka Gomukhaha
Sahasaivabhya Hanyantha Sashabdhas Tumulobhavath

Tatah Shwetair Hayairyukte Mahatisyandane Sthithau
Madhavah Pandavaschaiva Divyau Shankhau Pradhadhmathuhu

Panchajanyam Hrishikeshaha Devadattam Dhananjayah
Paundram Dadhmau Mahashankham Bhimakarma Vrikodaraha

Anantha Vijayam Raja Kuntiputro Yudhishtiraha
Nakulah Sahadevascha Sughosha Manipushpakau

Kashyascha Parameshvasaha Shikhandicha Maharathaha
Dhrishtadhyumno Viratascha Satyakischaparajithaha

Drupado Draupadeyascha Sarvashah Prithivipathehe
Saubhadrascha Mahabahuhu Shankhan Dadhmuh Prithak Prithak

Saghosho Dhartharastrannam Hridayanivyadarayath
Nabhascha Prithivim Chaiva Tumulovyanunadayan.

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Even as Duryodhana was beginning to express doubts, the powerful grandfather Bhishma, seniormost of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conch shell in a high pitch, sounding like the roar of a lion, in an attempt to cheer him up.

As if taing the cue, conchs, kettle-drums, tabors, military drums and cowhorns began blaring out, causing a tremendous sound.

Then Krishna and Arjuna, seated in a great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their celestial conch-shell horns.

Sri Krishna sounded the Panchajanya. Arjuna blew his Devadatta. Bhima - the man or terrible deeds, sounded his conch, Paundram.

Yudhistira, the king and the eldest of the sons of Kunti, sounded the Anantavijaya, Nakula and Sahadeva blew at their Sughosha and Manipushpaka.

The great archer and King of Kashi, Shikhandi the mighty car-warrior, Dhristadhyumna, Virata and the invincible Satyaki, the King of Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, the strong-armed son of Subhadra - all of them sounded their conch shell horns again and again, every where, oh King, Sanjaya narrates to Dhritarashtra.

The earth and the sky reverberated with the resounding uproar of the tumultous conch shells, piercing the hearts of the followers of Dhritarashtra.

The conch has an important role to play in many religious and spiritual traditions. The blowing of the conch usually symbolises the beginning of prayer. It is rather like a calling attention motion! The sound of the conch, drums and horns have the capacity to overpower the wavering mind and bring it immediately to the present moment. If meditation is about drawing oneself to the present moment - the sound of the conch and other musical instruments serve as a mighty distractive force to finally attract the mind and bring it to the silence of the present moment. Just as all the players in the war sounded the conch to get their minds alert for the war, disturbing situations outside can often be shoved aside with a strong mental resolve just like the call of the conch, to gather oneself to be with the silence of consciousness. Settling down to some quietude is the precursor to the birth of clarity. - Swahilya Shambhavi.