Shloka 12
आचार्य-क्षमा, देśa–kāla-नīti, तथा भेद-दोषः
Teacher-Reconciliation, Timing-Policy, and the Fault of Factionalism
श्रुतास्ते शड्खशब्दाश्न भेरीशब्दाश्न पुष्कला: । कुज्जराणां च नदतां व्यूढानीकेषु तिछताम्
śrutās te śaṅkhaśabdāś ca bherīśabdāś ca puṣkalāḥ | kuñjarāṇāṃ ca nadatāṃ vyūḍhānīkeṣu tiṣṭhatām ||
Arjuna sprach: „Oft hast du das Dröhnen der Muschelhörner vernommen und immer wieder den laut widerhallenden Schlag der Kriegstrommeln. Auch das trompetende Brüllen großer Elefanten hast du gehört, wenn sie inmitten der zum Kampf geordneten Heere standen.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores martial readiness and steadiness: a warrior should not be shaken by the sensory tumult of battle—conches, drums, and elephants—but recognize them as familiar signals of organized warfare and remain composed in duty.
Arjuna addresses his listener (contextually, a companion in the Virata episode) and evokes the familiar sounds of the battlefield—conches, war-drums, and trumpeting elephants in formed ranks—setting the scene and strengthening resolve for impending combat.