Shloka 11
भीमसेन–कर्णयुद्धवर्णनम्
Description of the Bhīmasena–Karṇa Engagement
तथैव दध्मतु: शड्खौ वासुदेवधनंजयौ । प्रवरी सर्वदेवानां सर्वशड्खवरी भुवि,इसी प्रकार सम्पूर्ण देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन भूतलके समस्त शंखोंमें उत्तम अपने दिव्य शंख बजाने लगे
tathaiva dadhmatuḥ śaṅkhau vāsudeva-dhanañjayau | pravarī sarvadevāṇāṃ sarvaśaṅkhavarī bhuvi ||
Sañjaya said: In the same manner, Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) blew their conches—those two who are foremost among all the gods, and whose conches are the best among all conches upon the earth. The sound signals resolve and righteous confidence at the outset of battle, presenting their cause as divinely supported and morally steady amid the violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is framed by dharma: the conch-sound functions as an auspicious proclamation of steadfast duty and moral resolve, presenting the protagonists’ cause as supported by higher order rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, matching earlier martial signals, blow their conches. The act serves as a formal battle-call and a psychological declaration of confidence and leadership on the battlefield.