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,तुमने बहुत बार शंख-ध्वनि सुनी होगी। रण-भेरियोंके भयंकर शब्द भी बहुत बार तुम्हारे कानोंमें पड़े होंगे और व्यूहबद्ध सेनाओंमें खड़े हुए चिग्धाड़नेवाले गजराजोंके शब्द भी तुमने सुने ही होंगे
śrutās te śaṅkhaśabdāś ca bherīśabdāś ca puṣkalāḥ | kuñjarāṇāṃ ca nadatāṃ vyūḍhānīkeṣu tiṣṭhatām ||
Arjuna said: “You have often heard the blare of conches, and again and again the loud, resounding beat of war-drums. You have also heard the trumpeting roars of great elephants standing amid armies drawn up in battle formation.”
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.