Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 16 (1.16)
Original Sanskrit · सञ्जयः
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ
॥ 1.16 ॥
anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau
Translation
"King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew the conch Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the conches Sughosha and Manipushpaka."
Interpretation
"King" Yudhishthira. Sanjaya calls Yudhishthira "king" — Duryodhana too was called "king" in 1.2. Two kings, one kingdom. Sanjaya's choice of word (deliberate or not) lays bare the root of the conflict: whose right is the kingdom?
The message of the epithets according to Madhusudana:
- Kuntīputra: Kunti obtained Yudhishthira through great austerity and worship of Dharma (the deity) — that is, Yudhishthira is born of dharma.
- Rājā: he had performed the Rajasuya yajna, so he is the foremost king.
- Yudhiṣṭhira: the name itself means "steady in battle". Madhusudana: he will stay steady in battle and share in the victory; his opponents will not stay steady.
The conch named "Anantavijaya". Endless victory — it can be taken as a hint of a victory founded on Yudhishthira's dharma. This is the meaning of the name; the shloka itself does not interpret it.
Nakula and Sahadeva. The twin sons of Madri, the youngest Pandavas. Describing them together suits their being twins. Their conches — Sughosha (sweet-sounding) and Manipushpaka (beautiful as a jewel-flower).
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.