Immediately following the lion’s roar from Bhishma’s conch, the entire Kaurava army responds in kind. The thirteenth verse of the Bhagavad Gita, known as the Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse, describes this massive, spontaneous eruption of sound. The Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse paints a picture of a force unleashed, a wave of sound that shakes the heavens and earth.
Sanskrit Verse
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ १३ ॥Transliteration
tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ |
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat || 13 ||Word for Word Translation
tataḥ – thereafter; śaṅkhāḥ – conch shells; ca – also; bheryaḥ – large drums; ca – and; paṇava-ānaka-gomukhāḥ – small drums, kettledrums, and horns; sahasā – suddenly; eva – certainly; abhyahanyanta – were sounded together; saḥ – that; śabdaḥ – sound; tumulaḥ – tumultuous; abhavat – became.
English Translation
Thereafter, conch shells, large drums, small drums, kettledrums, and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse is a direct auditory experience of the Kaurava army’s spirit. Unlike Bhishma’s singular, authoritative roar, this is a collective explosion of sound. The verse lists a variety of ancient Indian musical instruments used in warfare:
- Shankha: The conch shells, blown by many warriors.
- Bherya: Large, powerful kettle-drums that create a deep, resonant boom.
- Panava and Anaka: Smaller hand drums that add to the percussive rhythm.
- Gomukha: A type of horn, likely with a piercing, intimidating sound.
The key words in this verse are “sahasaiva” (suddenly) and “tumulaḥ” (tumultuous). This was not a perfectly orchestrated symphony; it was a spontaneous, chaotic, and overwhelming cacophony. It signifies the immense enthusiasm and high morale of the Kaurava soldiers, all eager to follow their commander’s lead and rush into battle. The sound described in the Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse is the sound of an army trying to project its own massive scale and power through sheer volume.
Conclusion
The Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse teaches us about the nature of collective energy. When a leader gives a signal, the response of the group can reveal its character. The Kauravas’ response is tumultuous—full of power, passion, and immense force, but also chaotic and unrestrained. This stands in stark contrast to the Pandavas’ response, which we will see is far more coordinated.
This verse is a powerful metaphor for how groups respond to a call to action. Sometimes the response is a sudden, passionate, and overwhelming wave of enthusiasm, as seen here. The Tatah Shankhash Cha Bheryash Cha verse captures that raw, collective power. It is the sound of a force confident in its numbers, ready to drown out any opposition with its own thunderous voice.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 14 – Tatah Shvetair Hayair Yukte
