Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.181.20

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.19

The armies gather; conches sound

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।

नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् ॥ १९ ॥

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ

hṛdayāni vyadārayat

nabhaś ca pṛthivīṁ caiva

tumulo ’bhyanunādayan

Translation

The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Confidence in Lord Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1The loud conchshell sounds filled the sky and earth, shattering the hearts of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons.
  2. 2The conchshells of Bhīṣma and Duryodhana’s other supporters did not shatter the Pāṇḍavas’ hearts.
  3. 3The Pāṇḍavas’ conchshell sounds, however, shattered the hearts of the opposing side.
  4. 4Prabhupāda explains that this was due to the Pāṇḍavas’ confidence in Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  5. 5One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the greatest calamity.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: the armies gather; conches sound.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Honest questions open the way to wisdom.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.1The armies gather; conches soundBG 1.2The armies gather; conches soundBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 1.19 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.