Bhagavad-gītā 1.15 – Study Guide

1. Purport Metrics & Overview

Purport Metrics	Details
No. of times cited by Śrīla Prabhupāda	1
Total No. of Words in Purport	363
No. of Paragraphs in Purport	2
Purport Paragraph Titles	1. Hṛṣīkeśa Directs the Senses of the Jīva as per Their Level of Surrender 1.5. Krishna’s Activities Give Him His Names 2. Pāṇḍavas’ Conchshell Vibrations Encourage Their Soldiers

High-Level Flow:

After Krishna and Arjuna sound their transcendental conchshells (1.14), this verse introduces the distinct conchshells of Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhīma.
Krishna is called Hṛṣīkeśa (master of the senses), indicating His direct control over Arjuna’s actions.
Arjuna is referred to as Dhanañjaya (winner of wealth), signifying his past role in collecting resources for sacrifices.
Bhīma is known as Vṛkodara (voracious eater), highlighting his incredible physical strength.
The conchshells of the Pāṇḍavas uplift their soldiers, while the Kauravas lack such divine encouragement.
This verse further reinforces the spiritual and moral superiority of the Pāṇḍavas over the Kauravas.

2. Verse & Translation

Sanskrit:
pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo
devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ
pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śaṅkhaṁ
bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ

Translation:
“Then, Lord Kṛṣṇa blew His conchshell, called Pāñcajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhīma, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Pauṇḍram.”

3. Connection with Previous Verse

Verse 1.14 describes Krishna and Arjuna blowing their divine conchshells.
Verse 1.15 expands on this by introducing the specific conchshells of Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhīma.
Key Link:

This verse emphasizes that Krishna’s presence ensures victory, reinforcing the theme from 1.14.
The distinct conchshells highlight the unique qualities of each warrior and their significance in battle.

4. Sambandha, Abhidheya, or Prayojana?

Category: Sambandha-tattva (Understanding our relationship with Krishna and the material world)

Sambandha-tattva defines the nature of jīva, īśvara, prakṛti, kāla, and karma.
This verse shows Krishna as the supreme controller, directing Arjuna’s actions and protecting the Pāṇḍavas.
The sound of these conchshells signals the ultimate victory of dharma over adharma.

✅ This verse is Sambandha-tattva because it highlights:

Krishna as Hṛṣīkeśa—the controller of all senses, guiding Arjuna directly.
The Pāṇḍavas’ alignment with Krishna, ensuring their victory.
The effect of transcendental sound in uplifting dhārmic warriors.

5. Analysis of Key Terms

Hṛṣīkeśa (Krishna, Master of the Senses)
Krishna directs the senses of all living beings, but He fully controls the senses of His devotees, as seen in Arjuna’s case.

Dhanañjaya (Arjuna, Winner of Wealth)
This name signifies Arjuna’s past service in gathering wealth for sacrificial purposes, reinforcing his dedication to dharma.

Vṛkodara (Bhīma, Voracious Eater)
This title reminds us of Bhīma’s immense strength and appetite, both in food and battle.

6. Connection to the Five Topics of Bhagavad-gītā

Topic	Connection in Verse 1.15
Īśvara (Supreme Lord)	Krishna is Hṛṣīkeśa, the controller of senses, guiding Arjuna directly.
Jīva (Living entity)	Arjuna acts under Krishna’s direction, showing the ideal surrender of a devotee.
Prakṛti (Material nature)	The conchshells, chariots, and battle formations are external manifestations of prakṛti.
Kāla (Time)	Kāla is moving toward Kaurava destruction, signaled by the divine conchshell sounds.
Karma (Actions & Results)	The Pāṇḍavas’ righteous past actions align them with Krishna, ensuring their success.

7. References from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport

1. Key Points from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport:

Krishna is called Hṛṣīkeśa because He controls the senses of all living beings.
The impersonalists cannot account for the existence of senses, whereas Krishna directs the senses based on a person’s level of surrender.
Different names of Krishna correspond to different pastimes (e.g., Madhusūdana, Govinda, Pārtha-sārathi).
The Pāṇḍavas’ conchshell sounds inspired their soldiers, whereas the Kauravas lacked such divine encouragement.

8. Insights from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Lecture (July 15, 1973, London)

Krishna directly guides His devotees, but He gives independence to others based on their desires.
Each name of Krishna has deep significance, revealing different aspects of His personality.
The conchshells of the Pāṇḍavas symbolize the certainty of their victory, unlike the Kauravas’ battle sounds, which are merely material noise.
The presence of Krishna in a devotee’s life guarantees success in both material and spiritual battles.

9. Keywords for Bhagavad-gītā 1.15

📌 From Translation: Krishna, Arjuna, Bhīma, Conchshell, Pāñcajanya, Devadatta, Pauṇḍram
📌 From Purport: Hṛṣīkeśa, Senses, Control, Devotee, Name of Krishna, Pāṇḍava Victory
📌 From Lecture: Surrender, Divine Sound, Krishna’s Protection, Dhārmic Strength

10. Practical Lessons

Krishna Controls the Senses of His Devotees

Arjuna acts under Krishna’s direct guidance, showing perfect surrender.
Materialists believe in independence, but true control is in Krishna’s hands.

Krishna’s Different Names Reveal His Personality

Each of Krishna’s names corresponds to a specific pastime, demonstrating His multifaceted nature.

Spiritual Sound Has the Power to Uplift

The Pāṇḍavas’ conchshell sounds encourage their army, showing the power of transcendental vibration.

11. Preaching Relevance & Application

Preaching Topic	How This Verse is Relevant
Krishna as the Controller of the Senses	Hṛṣīkeśa directs Arjuna—showing how Krishna guides surrendered souls.
The Power of Krishna’s Names	Each of Krishna’s names describes His unlimited qualities.
Spiritual Sound vs. Material Sound	The Pāṇḍavas’ conchshells carry divine potency, unlike the Kauravas’ material noise.

12. Conclusion

Bhagavad-gītā 1.15 highlights Krishna’s direct involvement in Arjuna’s life, reinforcing His role as Hṛṣīkeśa, the controller of senses. The conchshell sounds of Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhīma signify divine strength and the assurance of victory. Unlike the Kauravas’ chaotic noise, the Pāṇḍavas’ conchshell vibrations uplift their warriors and confirm their alignment with Krishna.