Verse 1.13

Sanskrit

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः | सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ||१३||

Transliteration (IAST)

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ | sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat ||13||

Word-by-Word Meanings

Translation

Then conch shells, kettledrums, tabors, drums, and horns suddenly blared forth, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

Commentary

The cacophony of war instruments creates an atmosphere of impending violence. This sensory description contrasts with the philosophical discourse that will follow, grounding the Gita's teachings in the visceral reality of war.

Themes

Related Verses