Adhyāya 108 — Nimitta-darśana and Drona’s counsel amid Arjuna’s advance (निमित्तदर्शनं द्रोणोपदेशश्च)
दध्मु: शड्खांश्व॒ भेरीश्व ताडयामासुराहवे । महाराज! पाण्डव उस महासमरमें शत्रुओंको जीतकर शंख फूँकने और नगाड़े पीटने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | dadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca bherīś ca tāḍayāmāsur āhave | mahārāja! pāṇḍavāḥ tasmin mahāsamare śatrūn jitvā śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ bherīś ca tāḍayāmāsuḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran mereka meniup sangkakala dan memalu gendang perang. Wahai Raja Agung! Setelah menewaskan dan menundukkan musuh dalam pertempuran besar itu, para Pāṇḍava membunyikan sangkakala serta memukul genderang besar sebagai pengisytiharan kemenangan.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how outward ritual signals—conch-blowing and drum-beating—function ethically and socially in war: they announce a turning of fortune, strengthen collective resolve, and communicate order and confidence to one’s side. In the Mahābhārata’s frame, such signals often accompany the assertion of a righteous cause and disciplined leadership.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in a major clash, the Pāṇḍavas gained the upper hand over their opponents and then sounded conches and beat war-drums as a public proclamation of victory on the battlefield.