In Chapter 1, Verse 12 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, the warrior prince, expresses his emotional turmoil and hesitancy to engage in battle against his own relatives and loved ones. He observes his family members, teachers, and acquaintances arrayed on both sides of the battlefield and is deeply troubled by the prospect of fighting them.

Here’s the verse:

“तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।

सिम्हनादं विनाद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्।।” (Bhagavad Gita 1.12)

Translation: “Then Bhishma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the warriors, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.”

In this verse, Bhishma, the revered and formidable patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, initiates the battle by blowing his conchshell loudly, which reverberates across the battlefield like the roar of a lion. This action fills Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas, with joy and enthusiasm for the impending conflict.

The blowing of the conchshell symbolizes the commencement of the battle and serves as a call to arms for both sides. Bhishma’s action highlights the gravity of the situation and the inevitability of the conflict, further intensifying Arjuna’s inner turmoil and setting the stage for the subsequent teachings of Lord Krishna.