Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 15 Meaning
Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima, the wolf-bellied doer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.
BG 1.15
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः
pāñchajanyaṁ hṛiṣhīkeśho devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śhaṅkhaṁ bhīma-karmā vṛikodaraḥ
Meaning
Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima, the wolf-bellied doer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 1.15 Mean?
This verse carries the weight of lived truth. Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima, the wolf-bellied doer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra. In the context of confronting the reality of fighting one's own family and teachers, these words illuminate the principle of compassion from a perspective that complements the surrounding verses. The connection between compassion and grief that this verse draws is central to the Gita's vision.
Unlike traditions that separate the spiritual from the practical, Krishna consistently shows that genuine understanding must express itself in how we live, relate, and act. What makes this teaching enduringly relevant is its refusal to separate the spiritual from the ordinary. The very situations that challenge us become the ground of practice when approached with the understanding this verse provides.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 1.15?
Arjuna's moral crisis on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where he must fight against his own relatives, teachers, and friends.
Key themes in this chapter include Moral dilemma, Family duty, Compassion.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 1.15 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with moral dilemma
- •When practicing family duty amid uncertainty
- •When applying compassion to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
BG 1.28
Arjuna said, "O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen arrayed here, eager to fight,
BG 2.11
The Blessed Lord said, "You have grieved for those who should not be grieved for; yet, you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."
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