Krsna leads.🔗

Each of the great warriors in the Mahabharata War had his own, personal conch. Most of the great warriors also had their own flags that flew on their chariots, and their weapons, especially their bows, had great spiritual significance. Arjuna's presence in any part of the battlefield would be known by the sound of his conch and the twang of his bow! When Bhisma blew his conch in support of Duryodhana, the response was tumultuous on both sides. Every warrior on the battlefield took out his conch and blew his signature note. Of all the sounds that emanated at that moment, a few were heard above the rest. Krsna sounded his Pancajanya, which drowned all other sounds on the battlefield. It was an announcement that the Divine was already present with the Pandava army.

Vyasa, through Sanjaya, says that Krsna sounded His divine conch. This is significant since Vyasa attributes divinity only to Krsna's conch, not to anyone else's. In this context, it signifies that whoever Krsna sides with would be invincible.

Krsna is then referred to as Hrsikesa, controller of the senses, the superconscious, who has created the maya, the illusion that is this great war of Mahabharata. Vyasa implies that all that happens is a creation of Krsna. For what purpose? The Divine truly has no purpose. The Divine IS, that's all. Krsna was Arjuna's charioteer. Bhima blew his conch Paundra, a fearsome sound that invoked dread amongst the Kaurava army

The other three Pandava princes, Yudhistra, Nakula and Sahadeva and then the great warriors, Drupada, Virata, Satyaki, Sikhandi, Drstadyumna, Abhimanyu and others followed Bhima's conch, all blowing their conches in celebration of their impending victory.

To cognize the scene of the war as it is about to start, the tumultuous energy that comes before war, and to help them understand the significance of each conch being sounded.

• 1. What was the name of Krsna's conch or sankha?
• 2. Who did Krsna enter the war with and what was his position on the battlefield?
• 3. How could Arjuna be recognized in battle?
• 4. Who is the eldest of the Pandava princes?
• 5. Who was referred to as Hrsikesa and what does this name mean?