1.15
Verse (Bhagavad Gita 1.15):
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥ १.१५ ॥
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Transliteration:
Pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ |
Pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṁ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ || 1.15 ||
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Literal Translation:
"Hrishikesha (Krishna) blew the Panchajanya conch, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) blew the Devadatta conch, and Bhima, the one of mighty deeds and wolf-like appetite, blew the great conch Paundra."
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Samkhya Perspective and Translation:
"The Master of the Senses (Hrishikesha, representing Buddhi or higher intellect) blew the conch of Panchajanya, signifying the call of divine wisdom that transcends material nature. The Individual Self (Arjuna, representing the Jiva or conditioned self) blew Devadatta, the conch of self-realization, symbolizing the struggle of the self to align with wisdom. The force of raw energy and instinct (Bhima, representing Ahamkara, the ego-force) blew the great conch Paundra, announcing the surge of primal power that must be disciplined for true liberation."
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Explanation (Samkhya Perspective):
1. Hrishikesha (हृषीकेश) – The Master of the Senses (Buddhi)
Krishna represents Buddhi (higher intellect), which governs and controls the senses.
The conch Panchajanya (पाञ्चजन्य) symbolizes the five elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—meaning Krishna's wisdom governs the entire material existence.
Samkhya Meaning: The blowing of Panchajanya represents the call of Buddhi (discerning intellect) to rise above sensory entanglement and perceive truth.
2. Dhananjaya (धनञ्जय) – The Individual Self (Jiva) Seeking Liberation
Arjuna represents the Jiva (the conditioned individual soul), caught between wisdom (Buddhi) and ego-force (Ahamkara).
The conch Devadatta (God-given) signifies the inner voice of Dharma, which calls the individual toward self-realization.
Samkhya Meaning: The Jiva, bound by karma and samskaras (past impressions), begins to awaken to its higher nature through self-discipline and wisdom.
3. Bhima (भीम) – The Ego-Force (Ahamkara) and Primal Power
Bhima, known for his raw strength and emotional intensity, represents Ahamkara (the ego and personal identity).
The conch Paundra (पौण्ड्र), described as a great and powerful conch, signifies the surge of unchecked power and emotional intensity.
Samkhya Meaning: The ego, when undisciplined, is chaotic and driven by impulses, but when aligned with wisdom, it becomes a powerful tool for transformation.
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Deeper Samkhya Understanding:
This verse illustrates the three forces within every individual:
1. Buddhi (Discerning Wisdom – Krishna): The guiding force of reason and clarity.
2. Jiva (Conditioned Self – Arjuna): The struggling self, navigating between wisdom and past conditioning.
3. Ahamkara (Ego-Force – Bhima): The raw energy that can either lead to delusion or be harnessed for self-realization.
Thus, the three conchs represent the inner battle of consciousness, where:
Wisdom (Krishna) calls the self toward higher truth.
The Jiva (Arjuna) struggles between clarity and doubt.
The Ego-Force (Bhima) brings raw intensity that must be guided correctly.
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Final Samkhya Translation:
"The Higher Intellect (Buddhi), the master of the senses, called forth divine wisdom (Panchajanya). The conditioned self (Jiva), striving for truth, sounded the conch of self-realization (Devadatta). And the force of ego (Ahamkara), full of raw power, unleashed its mighty presence (Paundra), announcing the struggle of the self in its journey toward liberation."
This verse marks the internal war of consciousness, where Buddhi (wisdom), Jiva (self), and Ahamkara (ego) take their positions in the grand battlefield of the mind.