1.13. Thereafter, conches, kettledrums, tabors, mridangas, and trumpets blared forth all at once. That sound became most tumultuous.
Commentary: Explanation—'tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ'—Although Bhishma did not blow his conch to announce the commencement of battle, but rather to please Duryodhana, nevertheless, the Kaurava army understood Bhishma's blowing of the conch as the very declaration of war. Therefore, upon Bhishma blowing his conch, all the instruments such as conches of the Kaurava army resounded simultaneously.
'Śaṅkha' (conches) originate from the ocean. They are kept for the service and worship of the Lord and are used in ceremonies like offering the āratī. They are blown with the mouth during auspicious functions and at the beginning of battle. 'Bherī' is the name for large kettledrums (the very large kettledrums are called naubat). These drums are made of iron and covered with buffalo hide, and are played with wooden sticks. They are kept in temples and in the forts of kings. They are played especially during festivals and auspicious occasions. In the palaces of kings, they are sounded daily.
'Paṇava' is the name for a type of drum. These are made of iron or wood and covered with goat skin, and are played by hand or with a wooden stick. Though similar in shape to a ḍholakī, they are larger than it. Playing the paṇava at the start of any undertaking is considered as auspicious as the worship of Lord Gaṇeśa.
'Ānaka' is the name for the mṛdaṅga. These are also called pakhāvaja. In shape, they are like a wooden ḍholakī. They are made of clay and covered with hide, and are played by hand.
'Gomukha' is the name for a trumpet. These are curved like a snake and their mouth is like that of a cow. They are blown with the mouth.
'Sahasaivābhyahanyanta'—(See note for previous verse) There was great enthusiasm in the Kaurava army. Therefore, as soon as Grandsire Bhishma's conch sounded, all the instruments of the Kaurava army spontaneously blared forth together. There was no delay in their sounding, nor was any effort required to play them.
'Sa śabdastumulo'bhavat'—The sound of the conches and other instruments of the Kaurava army, stationed in separate divisions and battalions, became most fearsome, meaning their noise resonated with great force.
Connection—At the very beginning of this chapter, Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya what my sons and the sons of Pandu did on the battlefield. Therefore, from the second verse to this thirteenth verse, Sanjaya gave the answer regarding 'what the sons of Dhritarashtra did'. Now, from the next verse onwards, Sanjaya gives the answer regarding 'what the sons of Pandu did'.
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