Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 17: Meaning and Special Explanation

Sloka (Verse):

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥१७॥

kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahā-rathaḥ ।
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ॥17॥

Word-by-Word Meaning:

kāśyaḥ — the King of Kashi
ca — and
parama-iṣu-āsaḥ — the great archer
śikhaṇḍī — Shikhandi
ca — and
mahā-rathaḥ — the great warrior
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ — Dhrishtadyumna
virāṭaḥ — Virata
ca — and
sātyakiḥ — Satyaki
ca — and
aparājitaḥ — the unconquered, invincible

Translation:

The great archer King of Kashi and the mighty warrior Shikhandi, and Dhrishtadyumna and Virata and the unconquered Satyaki — all of them blew their respective conchshells.

Purport

In this verse, Sanjaya mentions five more powerful warriors from the Pandava side who announced the commencement of battle by blowing their respective conchshells. Each warrior has his own unique characteristics and history, which made the battle of Kurukshetra even more significant.

The King of Kashi was the ruler of the Kashi kingdom (present-day Varanasi) and an extraordinary archer. He is called 'parameshvasa' — meaning 'exceptional archer.' Kashi is an ancient and highly sacred city, famous as a center of spirituality. The participation of such a holy place's king on the Pandavas' side proves that righteous and just rulers were also supporting the Pandavas. The presence of the King of Kashi increased the strength, dignity, and spiritual purity of the Pandava army. His conch sound was a proclamation of dharma's victory.

Shikhandi is an extremely special and mysterious character. He is called 'maha-ratha.' Shikhandi was the child of King Drupada and had a unique role in the history of the Mahabharata. In his previous birth, Shikhandi was a princess named Amba, who considered herself humiliated and unhappy in life because of Bhishma. Therefore, Amba performed severe austerities and was reborn as Shikhandi in the next life, whose sole life purpose was to become the cause of Bhishma's fall.

Bhishma had vowed that he would never raise weapons against a woman or anyone who was once a woman. Shikhandi's presence was a major challenge for the Kauravas because a great warrior like Bhishma could not fight against Shikhandi. In this way, Shikhandi became a helper to Arjuna and played an important role in defeating Bhishma. Thus Shikhandi became a special instrument in Lord Sri Krishna's plan. His conch sound was an indication of Bhishma's fall and a message of terror for the Kauravas.

Dhrishtadyumna was the commander of the Pandava army and the son of King Drupada. There was also a special purpose behind his birth. Drupada and Dronacharya were childhood friends, but later when Drona went to Drupada for help in poverty, Drupada insulted him and said that friendship is only between equals, not with the poor.

To avenge this insult, Drona educated the Kuru princes and asked them to capture Drupada as guru dakshina. Arjuna successfully captured Drupada, and Drona seized half his kingdom. Humiliated and defeated, Drupada performed a special yajna and prayed for a son who would kill Drona. From the fire of that yajna, Dhrishtadyumna was born fully equipped. He was born with the purpose of killing Dronacharya — this was part of the divine plan. Thus Dhrishtadyumna's presence and his conch sound were indications of Dronacharya's future fall.

Virata was the king of the Matsya kingdom. When the Pandavas and Draupadi were forced to live in disguise during the final year of their thirteen-year exile in incognito, they took shelter in King Virata's kingdom. Virata did not know that those doing various tasks in his court were actually the Pandavas. Yudhishthira became a courtier, Bhima became a cook, Arjuna became a dance teacher, Nakula became the keeper and trainer of horses, Sahadeva became the caretaker of cows, and Draupadi became the queen's maid.

Later, when Virata learned that they were the Pandavas, he became very respectful toward them and gave his daughter Uttara in marriage to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu. And with gratitude, he participated in the battle on the Pandavas' side. Virata's presence proves that those who gave shelter to the Pandavas in their time of danger were ready to stand for dharma. His conch sound was a symbol of gratitude and loyalty.

Satyaki was a great warrior of the Yadu dynasty and a dear devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. He was also called Yuyudhana. He was a disciple of Arjuna and an extremely skilled archer. The word 'aparajita' is specifically used about him because he was never defeated in battle. His strength and courage were extraordinary.

Satyaki's presence is especially significant because although Lord Sri Krishna himself had vowed not to bear arms, his dear devotee and representatives of the Yadu dynasty were on the Pandavas' side. Satyaki was a symbol of Krishna devotion, and his conch sound was the message that where there is Krishna bhakti, there is God's blessing and victory is certain.

The presence of these warriors and their conch sounds teach us that everyone has a specific purpose and role in Lord Sri Krishna's plan. Shikhandi for Bhishma's fall, Dhrishtadyumna for Drona's death, the King of Kashi for supporting dharma, Virata for gratitude, and Satyaki for representing Krishna devotion — each had a specific task.

When everyone unites on the side of dharma and fulfills their responsibilities, victory is inevitable. These conch sounds prove that with the Pandavas were dharma, truth, and Lord Sri Krishna's blessings — therefore their victory was certain.

From this verse we understand that everyone in life has a specific purpose and role. When the time comes, that role will definitely be fulfilled. Someone may be a great warrior, someone a shelter-giver, someone a devotee, someone born for a special purpose — but when everyone unites on the side of dharma, no power can defeat them.

We too should engage our own abilities, qualities, and circumstances in the service of Lord Sri Krishna and stand firmly on the path of dharma. Everyone has a special place in God's plan. If we perform our duties while remaining in Krishna consciousness, then our lives will also be meaningful and we will attain eternal victory.

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare।
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare॥