Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.14 – 1.19 Blowing of Transcendental Conchshell

Lord Krishna and Arjuna stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses then sounded their transcendental conchshells (divya sankha). The sounding of the transcendental conchshells indicated that there was no hope of victory for the other side because Lord Krishna was on the side of the Pandavas. Victory is always with persons like the sons of Pandu because Lord Krishna is associated with them.

Whenever and wherever the Lord is present, the goddess of fortune (Lakhsmidevi) is also there because the goddess of fortune never lives alone without her husband. Therefore, victory and fortune were awaiting Arjuna, as indicated by the transcendental sound produced by the conchshell of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna blew His conchshell called pancajanya. After shifting to Mathura from Gokula, arrangements were made for Lord Krishna and Balarama to live under the instructions of Their spiritual master, Sandipani Muni in Ujjain. In return for the learning received, They seeked to serve Their teacher with some offering or guru-dakshina. Sandipani Muni asked for the return of his dead son, who had drowned in the ocean on the bank of Prabhasaksetra. Lord Krishna and Balarama immediately went to the beach and asked the controlling deity of the ocean to return the son of Their teacher. The ocean deity informed, “The boy was not actually taken by me, but was captured by a demon named Pancajana. This great demon generally remains deep in the water in the shape of a conchshell. The son of Your teacher might be within the belly of the demon, having been devoured by him.” On hearing this, Lord Krishna dove deep into the water and caught hold of the demon Pancajana. He killed him on the spot, but could not find the son of His teacher within his belly. He took the demon’s dead body (in the shape of a conchshell) and returned to His chariot on the beach. Thereafter He along with His elder brother Balarama went to the residence of Yamaraja and blew His conchshell named pancajanya. Yamaraja received his Master with all respectful obeisances and returned the teacher’s son.

Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.4 to 1.11 Show of Strength

Like a typical ignorant material being, Duryodhana assessed his military strength vis-à-vis the enemy strength. He pointed out to Dronacarya the names of heroic fighters in the defending military force as stumbling blocks on the path of victory. He then triggered the names of exceptional heroes like Bhismadeva and Karna in the battle who were qualified to lead his military force (in case his brahmana commander-in-chief faltered).

Duryodhana thought that the might of his armed forces was immeasurable, being specifically protected by the most experienced general, Grandfather Bhisma. On the other hand, the forces of the Pandavas were limited, being protected by a less experienced general, Bhima. He used diplomatic ways with his grandfather as well since he clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended on the presence of Bhismadeva.

He was also confident of his victory on account of the combined strength of all his friends. They were all determined to lay down their lives for Duryodhana’s sake. Indirectly, it was already concluded that all of them under Kauravas would die in the Battle of Kuruksetra for joining the party of the sinful Duryodhana.

Duryodhana did not know that defeat and death does not depend on military strength or bodily strength. When death will come, nobody can check. Death is God’s act. When Lord Krishna desires that "This man should be killed now," or "He must die now," nobody can check. If Lord Krishna desires to kill somebody, nobody can give him protection, no power can save him. And if He wants to save somebody, nobody can kill him. This is Lord Krishna's protection. This realization that only Lord Krishna decides and saves is the beginning of surrender.