1.14. Then, also, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent chariot, yoked with white horses, blew divine conches.

1.12 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.

**1.14:** Thereafter, seated upon the great chariot yoked with white horses, Lord Shri Krishna, the consort of Lakshmi, and Arjuna, the son of Pandu, blew their divine conches with great force. **Commentary:** Explanation—'Then, yoked with white horses'— The Gandharva Chitraratha had given Arjuna a hundred divine horses. These horses had the special quality that however many of them might be slain in battle, they would always remain one hundred in number, never diminishing. They could travel to all places, including the earth and heaven. Out of these hundred horses, four beautiful and well-trained white horses were yoked to Arjuna's chariot. 'Seated upon the great chariot'— The fire god had developed indigestion from consuming ghee offered in sacrifices. Therefore, Agni desired to cure his indigestion by consuming (burning) the extraordinary herbs of the Khandava forest. However, because the forest was protected by the gods, Agni could not succeed in his task. Whenever he would set the Khandava forest ablaze, Indra would extinguish it by causing rain. Finally, with Arjuna's help, Agni burned the entire forest and cured his indigestion. Pleased, he gave Arjuna this immense chariot. It could hold as many weapons as nine bullock carts. It was plated with gold and was radiant. Its wheels were very sturdy and vast. Its flag shone like lightning. This flag would flutter up to one Yojana (four Kos). Despite being so long, it was neither heavy, nor would it ever get stuck or caught in trees, etc. Upon this flag, Hanumanji was seated. 'Seated'— The implication is that the beauty and radiance of that chariot were greatly enhanced by the presence of the Lord Shri Krishna Himself and His dear devotee Arjuna seated upon it. 'Madhavah and Pandava'— 'Ma' is a name for Lakshmi and 'dhava' means husband. Therefore, 'Madhava' is a name for the consort of Lakshmi. Here, 'Pandava' refers to Arjuna; because Arjuna is the foremost among all the Pandavas — 'Of the Pandavas, I am Arjuna' (Gita 10.37). Arjuna was an incarnation of 'Nara' and Shri Krishna of 'Narayana'. At the beginning of every Parva of the Mahabharata, obeisance is offered to Narayana (Lord Shri Krishna) and Nara (Arjuna) — 'Salutations to Narayana and to Nara, the best of men.' From this perspective, in the Pandava army, Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna—these two were the principal figures. At the end of the Gita, Sanjaya also said, 'Wherever there is Yogeshvara Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, there will be prosperity, victory, glory, and unfailing righteousness' (18.78). 'Blew their divine conches'— The conches in the hands of Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna were radiant and supernatural. They blew those conches with great force. A doubt may arise here: On the Kaurava side, the chief commander is Grandsire Bhishma, so it is proper for him to blow his conch first. But in the Pandava army, even though the chief commander is Dhrishtadyumna, why did Lord Shri Krishna, who had taken the position of a charioteer, blow His conch first? The resolution is this: Whether the Lord becomes a charioteer or a great warrior, His primacy can never be diminished. In whatever position He remains, He is always the greatest. The reason is that He is Achyuta, He never falls. In the Pandava army, Lord Shri Krishna Himself was the principal figure and it was He who directed everyone. Even when He was in His childhood, Nanda, Upananda, etc., obeyed Him. That is why, upon the instruction of the child Shri Krishna, they abandoned the age-old worship of Indra and began worshipping Govardhana. The essence is that in whatever state, at whatever place, and wherever the Lord resides, He remains the principal figure. Therefore, the Lord blew His conch first in the Pandava army. One who is himself small is considered great only because of being appointed to a high position. Therefore, one who considers himself great due to a high position is actually small in himself. But one who is himself great, wherever he resides, that place too is considered great because of him. For example, here the Lord has become a charioteer, and because of Him, that position of charioteer also became exalted. **Connection:** Now, in the next four verses, Sanjaya elaborates on the previous verse and describes the blowing of conches by others.