Devanagari
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
tasya saṣjanayan harṣaṁ
kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ
śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān
Synonyms
tasya
—
his
;
saṣjanayan
—
increasing
;
harṣam
—
cheerfulness
;
kuru-vṛddhaḥ
—
the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma)
;
pitāmahaḥ
—
the grandfather
;
siṁha-nādam
—
roaring sound, like that of a lion
;
vinadya
—
vibrating
;
uccaiḥ
—
very loudly
;
śaṅkham
—
conchshell
;
dadhmau
—
blew
;
pratāpa-vān
—
the valiant.
Translation
Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
12. Then the majestic elder among the Kurus, the grandfather, in order to bring joy to Duryodhana, making the sound of lion, blew his conch loudly.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
12. Then the majestic elder among the Kurus, the grandfather, in order to bring joy to Duryodhana, making the sound of lion, blew his conch loudly.
Purport
The grandsire of the Kuru dynasty could understand the inner meaning of the heart of his grandson Duryodhana, and out of his natural compassion for him he tried to cheer him by blowing his conchshell very loudly, befitting his position as a lion. Indirectly, by the symbolism of the conchshell, he informed his depressed grandson Duryodhana that he had no chance of victory in the battle, because the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa was on the other side. But still, it was his duty to conduct the fight, and no pains would be spared in that connection.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Bhīṣma, the elder of the Kurus, joyful on hearing respect given to him, and to produce joy in Duryodhana by driving away his fears, roaring like lion, blew his conch shell. The phrase siṁha-nādaṁ vinadya uses the same root nad twice. The literal meaning is “roaring the roar of a lion.” The intended meaning is “roaring like a lion,” according to the sūtra upamāne karmaṇi. (Aṣṭādhyāyī, Pāṇini 3.4.45)
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
Then Bhīṣma in great joy, understanding that Duryodhana was praising him, blew his conch shell to drive away the inner fear of Duryodhana. The use of the phrase siṁha nādam vinadya is according to the Pāṇini rule upamāne karmaṇi ca. (Pāṇini 3.4.45) Ca refers to another sūtra to denote an agent as well as an object: kartary upamāne. (Pāṇini 3.2.79) It means “sounding like a lion.” [Note: A verb root with the suffix “am” can be used to mean “like.” Thus siṁha-nadam vinadya means that he blew his conch, sounding like a lion. Another example would be aja-nāśam nastaḥ: he perished like a goat (perishes).]
Without saying a word, just by blowing his conch, Bhīṣma announced that he would give up his life according to kṣatriya dharma for Duryodhana, though victory or defeat was really dependent only on the Lord.
Surrender Unto Me
Duryodhana shows his expertise in firing‑up Bhisma, and Bhisma is responding by blowing the conchshell and get ready for the fight.
Here is shown one of the various symbolisms that indicate the side of the victorious ‑ the conchshell blown by Bhisma. It indicates indirectly that the sons of Dhrtarastra have no chance of victory, because the conchshell is the symbol of Visnu or Krsna. Bhisma would do his best but the victory was not garanteed at all.