In
ancient times conch shells were blown before starting of war as a symbol that
its time. In the case of Mahabharata war as described in the Gita we also have
to remember that it has been described to drive home a spiritual message. The blowing
of conch shells in this respect also tells about strength of each character. The
trumpeting of conches is a declaration of the intention, of each of the chiefs,
of what he can offer after conquest….
Tasyasanjanayanharsam,kuru-vrddhahpitamahah;
simha-nadamvinadyoccaihsankham dadhmau pratapavan
simha-nadamvinadyoccaihsankham dadhmau pratapavan
. . . B.G.CHAP1VERSE12
The
mighty grandsire Bheeshm, the eldest of the Kaurav, blows his conch to produce
a lion-like roar which gladdens Duryodhan’s heart. The lion represents the
terrible, tooth-and-claw, aspect of nature. Our hair stands on end and our
hearts beat violently when we hear the roar of a lion in a still, solitary
forest even though we are miles away from the beast. Fear is a property of
nature, not of God. Bheeshm is the very image of delusion. If delusion
prevails, it will enwrap the material world’s forest of fear which we inhabit
in yet another shroud of fear to make the existing dread even more frightening.
Delusion cannot offer anything else except this. Fear, although in varying
degrees, is born out of each perversion. Similar is also the message of the
conches of the other Kaurav chiefs.
Tatahsankhascabheryasca,panavanaka-gomukhah;
sahasaivabhyahanyantasa, shabdas tumulo ’bhavat.
sahasaivabhyahanyantasa, shabdas tumulo ’bhavat.
….. B.G.CHAP 1
VERSE 13
After
Bheeshm’s blowing of his conch, numerous other conches, drums, and trumpets are
sounded together, and they make an awesome noise. The Kaurav have no message
other than that of fear. Intoxicated with a sense of false
success, the outward-looking impulses that offend and demean the human Soul
render the bonds of infatuation yet stronger.
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