Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta Shlok Blog -12
Shlok-12
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः । सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ १-१2 ||
English Transcription
Tasya Sanjannayanharsham Kuruvridhah Pitamahah | Singhanaadam Vinidhyochchai Shankham Dadhmau Prataapavaan || 1-12 ||
Hindi Translation
Duryodhan ke hridaya me harsh uttapanna karte hue Kauravon me yuddha prabhaavshali Bheeshma Pitamah ne Singh ke samaan garajkar zor se shankhnaad kiya.
English Translation
To fill the hearts of Duryodhan with excitement and joy, Bheeshma Pitamah, the most eldest and experienced Kaurava supporter roared loudly like a lion and blew a conch shell to show his support.
Meaning
In the previous Shlok, we saw how when Duryodhan tried everything he could to please Guru Dron and get him to say yes to joining the Kaurava army but didn’t succeed in making him say the same, although succeeded in effortlessly convincing him by bragging, patronizing and practically begging, he went to please Bheeshma Pitamah, his grandfather for the further actions.
Duryodhan knew he needed a new trick up his sleeve and so he told his army that whatever happens, everyone will fight from their designated space and make sure that no Panadava army person can approach Bheeshma Pitamah. this showed that even before Duryodhan had asked for it, he had prepared a place for Bheeshma Pitamah in his army.
Now, since the Pandavas hadn’t asked Bheeshma once to avoid the Dharamsankat he can be in by taking favors, Bheesham could not control his emotions of happiness and pride in being able to help his grandson and thus, he went on to say Yes.
Bheeshma had a unique style of agreeing with the Kaurava army. He did it with his conch shell. Bheeshma Pitamah had a huge conch shell that he used to play only to make announcements. When Duryodhan tried to please him with the instructions he passed to his army for Bheeshma’s protection, Bheeshma knew he wasn’t exactly right but he was so full of happiness and emotions that he took out that conch shell and blew into it.
This shell was a huge one, which made the sound like a roaring lion and it made everything silent and everyone a viewer and listener. It was a pleasant, yet powerful and gripping experience and everyone around understood that Bheeshma Pitamah was now formerly in support of the war.
Now, here there can be an expression that Bheeshma Pitamah was very happy and just to make his grandson happy, he took the step of blowing the conch shell and not making any announcement, then why did everyone think it was the war cry? The answer is very simple. Bheeshma Pitamah was not a very emotional or sentimental person, so knew the actions and repercussions of everything he did, will do, and can do. he knew how this gesture will be taken, and yet, he knew he needed to do this to prove two things:
1) Duryodhan needed to know that even if he had all the powers of the world, wrong will never be justified with power and right will take over. If war was the only reason he would get it, so be it.
2) Duryodhan was more focused on building an army and getting more and more people and Bheeshma knew that it was about time that the war started and no more new people are added. he wanted things to start and end soon and thus, make the most important point of peace and the uselessness of war clear by setting a practical example.
Bheeshma was the person who knew more about culture and tradition and morals, ethics, and values than anyone else. This was why, he was the most respected person for the same. yet, his own grandsons were not interested in knowing if he would approve of war or not. they just wanted to know will he support them in the war or not. So Bheeshma had also decided that he will blow the conch and make Duryodhan happy to assume that he had received what he wanted. Also, this will make things process faster because he knew that everything has an age and the lives of a lot of people, as well as the rampant hate for people for each other, was way too high and it needed to be get done with.
The interesting thing here to note is that Bheeshma Pitamah was a bachelor. He did not marry and he never accepted the kingdom. He was a great fighter and he had a great understanding of war and weaponry. This was the reason he was respected a lot because he was great at something and yet, e did not take that as a desire with him. Bheeshma was such a force warrior that he was undefeated by anyone, be it the army of Kashiraj when he had to fight with them or his own teacher and Guru, Parshuram.
Bheeshma was challenged by Parshuram, who felt that Bheeshma was getting way above his needs and he needs to be told his duties well. Bheeshma did not accept defeat against Parshuram knowing well that while Bheeshma was a fierce fighter, Prshuram was blessed with the advantage that he will never lose any war and no one will be able to defeat him ever.
This was why Bheeshma was considered in the highest of regards and everyone knew that if they have learned from Bheeshma himself, there is no way anyone is ever going to get defeated in life and in general.
Bheeshma also knew that Guru Dron was in full moos to join the Kauravas for the war due to his emotional and personal reasons and due to the convincing of Duryodhan, but since he did not say something to support it, Duryodhan was already disheartened and there was only hope that could keep the warrior at a go. When Bheeshma saw Duryodhan lose that hope, he felt bad and in his Pautramoh (attachment towards grandson from the shoes of a grandfather), he decided to not just say yes, but also start things sooner and end them faster as well.
Since Duryodhan had already understood the meaning of this blowing of Conch Shell, he was excited and happy because he knew that even if Guru Dron did not say anything, he was convinced and it is just a matter of tie before he too will join for Kauravas victory. All that while, Guru Dron was just thinking that what if he was being deceived and things were not exactly like they were represented, and if they were, is he right to think about siding with the Kauravas?
The important thing was that with this conch shell roar, there was a message sent that even if people wanted to avoid it from happening, the war had begun and will be in full swing. The conch shell was enough to roar like a lion, sound as high pitched as a group of elephants, and as fierce as the ring of a huge bell. this made everyone scared and attention while the only person happy with this was Duryodhan because this was what he wanted without realizing that it was not the best of choices for him.
Conclusion
Guru Dronacharya was not related to Duryodhan in any relationship. He was the teacher of Duryodhan and Durydhan too was a good kid. Guru Dron did not like taking sides and yet he was a little extra happy with Yudhishthir and Arjun and this angered Duryodhan to the core. Even Guru Dron knew that Duryodhan was jealous of Arjun and Yudhishthir and the Pandavas in general so he might try anything under the table to make things look and seem like Pandavas were bad and it was fruitful to favor the Kauaravas. That was why he was mostly in a thought mode. He was not sure if Duryodhan was right also, whether he would want to side with the Kauravas or not, and why his son was so happy to side with the Kauravas.
Meanwhile, because Bheeshma Pitamah was related to Duryodhan in the capacity of the grandfather, he could not see the disappointment and loss in his own grandchild. he knew Duryodhan was not right here and yet, he could not give up on his emotions and most importantly, he could not see his grandson angry, sad, or defeated. This was exactly why Bheeshma Pitamah took the step of agreeing to the war and siding with the Kauravas. He wanted to tell everyone that despite a fair fight, the truth will always triumph in the end, so it's not always about power. Sometimes, truth needs to take over.
That’s it for Shlok-12, Chapter-1 of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. We will see you tomorrow with Shlok-13, Chapter-1. If in case you have missed the Shlok-11, Chapter-1, we are linking it here.
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