Chapter 1 Shloka 15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजय:।

पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशंखं भीमकर्मा वृकोदर:।।१५।।

Sanjay describes to Dhritrashtra:

Hrishikesh – Lord Krishna, blew the Panchjanya conch;

Dhananjaya – Arjuna blew his conch – Devdatta;

Bhima the performer of formidable deeds,

blew the great conch Poundra.

Chapter 1 Shloka 15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजय:।

पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशंखं भीमकर्मा वृकोदर:।।१५।।

Sanjay describes to Dhritrashtra:

Hrishikesh – Lord Krishna, blew the Panchjanya conch; Dhananjaya – Arjuna blew his conch – Devdatta; Bhima the performer of formidable deeds, blew the great conch Poundra.

Little Abha, first let us understand the meaning of ‘Hrishikesh’ – an epithet of the Lord, then we will be able to understand the significance of the Panchjanya conch.

Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश) = Hrishik + Ish

Hrishik:

a) The organs of sense perception:

­­–   Ears that hear sounds,

­­–   Eyes that perceive forms,

­­–   The nose that smells odour,

­­–   The skin that perceives through touch,

­­–   The tongue that tastes.

b) The pleasure one gets through those organs;

c) To be filled with joy, happiness and bliss.

Ish means:

a) the ruler,

b) endowed with power,

c) the giver of power and strength,

d) the Supreme Lord of prowess,

e) the Master who commands, who controls all.

Thus Hrishikesh would mean:

1. One who has control over the organs of sense perception.

2. The Lord of the organs of perception.

3. The Master of knowledge who is knowledge Itself.

4. The paragon of joy and bliss.

5. Happiness Itself.

6. One who sees, smells, hears, feels and tastes only the Truth; who receives only the Truth through touch, taste etc.

That omniscient Lord Krishna blew the conch. on Arjuna’s behalf, who was in control of these five organs of perception since birth. Any sound that emanates from Lord Krishna’s conch is the declaration of One who epitomises knowledge and wisdom itself.

There is a prevalent story concerning the Panchjanya conch. It was extracted from the stomach of a demon of the sea – Panchjanya, who was killed by Lord Krishna. Little one! This story is significant as the sense organs stay within the ocean of the mind. When the ocean of the mind begins to dry up, when the attachment of the senses is quelled, the demon of material attachment dies a natural death. It is then that a ‘Hrishikesh’ or one who has control over the senses, can emerge; it is then that knowledge supported by love is born. Every declaration by such a Hrishikesh will be a declaration of Truth.

Arjuna’s conch was called ‘Devdatta’

‘Devdatta’ means:

a) a gift from the gods.

b) the bequest of one with divine powers.

Dhananjaya or Arjuna blew this conch.

‘Dhananjaya’ means:

1. One who has conquered wealth.

2. One who possesses all kinds of wealth – namely, the wealth of knowledge, tapas, divine qualities, recognition and fame.

3. Arjuna, replete with divine qualities, was called by this name.

‘Vrikodara’ or Bhima, was known for his phenomenal strength. He  who had performed frightful deeds and even drank the blood of his enemies, was called ‘Vrikodara’ or one with a wolf’s stomach – who ate everything.

Bhima blew his conch, the ‘Poundra’ which emitted a fearful and deafening sound.

Just try to understand this combination, little one!

When the Intellect blows the conch of the Epitome of Knowledge – Lord Krishna, then the mind sounds the conch of Arjuna – the embodiment of divine qualities and the body resounds with the conch of Bhima, indicative of deeds of great prowess and strength.

It is with this combination that a seeker’s spiritual endeavour finds completion. For success, the following are essential ingredients:

a) an impartial intellect,

b) the treasury of divine qualities,

c) supporting deeds performed with shrewdness and strength.

With a combination of all these, sadhana can be successfully accomplished.