Shloka 16
Karma-Yoga, Yajña-Cakra, and the Governance of Desire (कर्मयोग–यज्ञचक्र–कामनिग्रह)
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: । नकुल: सहदेवश्न सुधोषमणिपुष्पकौ,कुन्तीपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिने अनन्तविजय नामक और नकुल तथा सहदेवने सुघोष और मणिपुष्पक नामक शंख बजाये
anantavijayaṁ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||
Sanjaya said: King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, blew his conch named Anantavijaya; and Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conches named Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. In the ethical atmosphere of the Kurukṣetra conflict, this coordinated sounding of conches signals resolve and rightful readiness to act according to kṣatriya-dharma, while affirming unity and morale among the Pāṇḍavas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined readiness and moral resolve: the Pāṇḍavas, led by dharma-minded Yudhiṣṭhira, publicly affirm unity and commitment to their duty. The conch-sounding functions as an ethical signal of steadfastness rather than mere aggression.
Sanjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira blows his conch Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva blow Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. This is part of the pre-battle sounds on the Kurukṣetra field, marking the Pāṇḍava side’s organized commencement.