Shloka 23
अध्याय ५५ — भीष्मस्य प्रचण्डविक्रमः, अर्जुनप्रत्युत्तरं, कृष्णस्य चक्रोद्यतिः
Chapter 55: Bhīṣma’s onslaught, Arjuna’s counter, and Kṛṣṇa’s raised discus
ततः शड्खाश्न भेर्यश्व॒ पणवा विविधा: परे । आनकाश्चाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलो5भवत्,तदनन्तर शंख, भेरी, नाना प्रकारके पणव और आनक आदि अन्य बाजे सहसा बज उठे और उन सबका सम्मिलित शब्द सब ओर गूँज उठा
tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavā vividhāḥ pare | ānakāś cābhyahanyanta sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat ||
Sañjaya said: Then conches and kettledrums, and the many kinds of paṇava-drums on the other side, along with ānaka-drums, were suddenly struck; and their combined sound rose into a tremendous roar, echoing in every direction.
(संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war announces itself through overwhelming collective noise, reminding the listener that external excitement and intimidation can drown out inner moral clarity; dharma requires steadiness and discernment even when the world becomes tumultuous.
Sañjaya describes the opposing side’s instruments—conches and multiple kinds of drums—being struck together, creating a thunderous roar that signals readiness and escalation on the battlefield.