Shloka 21
अध्याय ५५ — भीष्मस्य प्रचण्डविक्रमः, अर्जुनप्रत्युत्तरं, कृष्णस्य चक्रोद्यतिः
Chapter 55: Bhīṣma’s onslaught, Arjuna’s counter, and Kṛṣṇa’s raised discus
भारत! तदनन्तर आपकी सेनाके समस्त सैनिक हर्षसे उललसित हो प्रसन्नतापूर्वक शंख बजाने और सिंहनाद करने लगे
bhārata! tadanantaraṁ āpakyā senāke samasta sainikā harṣeṇa ullasitaḥ ho prasannatāpūrvakaṁ śaṅkha bajāne aur siṁhanāda karane lage.
O Bhārata, unmittelbar darauf gerieten alle Soldaten deines Heeres in freudige Erregung, jubelten und begannen, ihre Muschelhörner zu blasen und löwengleiche Schlachtrufe zu erheben.
(संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective emotion and ritualized sound (conches and battle-cries) consolidate resolve before action. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya-war context where courage and unity are publicly affirmed, even as the larger epic questions the cost of such enthusiasm in a fratricidal war.
After a preceding event in the battle preparations, Sañjaya reports to the Kuru king that all the soldiers on the king’s side become delighted and begin blowing conches and shouting lion-like roars—an audible sign that the army is energized and ready for combat.