Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 16 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः | नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ||१-१६||
Transliteration
anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ . nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||1-16||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
1.16. The king Yodhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka.
।।1.16।।कुन्तीपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिर ने अनन्त विजय नामक शंख और नकुल व सहदेव ने क्रमश: सुघोष और मणिपुष्पक नामक शंख बजाये।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
Understand and own your specific role and contributions within a team or project. Just as each warrior blew their distinct conch, clearly define your responsibilities and be prepared to act decisively when the moment arrives, signaling your readiness.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
Facing a challenge, mentally prepare yourself by acknowledging your strengths and what you *can* contribute. Identifying your 'personal conch' (your unique way of responding or contributing) can empower you and reduce feelings of overwhelm by focusing on your agency.
❤️ In Relationships
In group settings or family dynamics, recognize and appreciate the unique identity and contributions of each individual. Acknowledging diverse roles and strengths (like distinct conches contributing to a single, powerful sound) strengthens collective bonds and shared purpose.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Own your unique role, prepare with unwavering resolve, and contribute your distinct strength to collective endeavors for powerful, unified action.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
1.16 अनन्तविजयम् (the conch named) Anantavijayam? राजा the king? कुन्तीपुत्रः son of Kunti? युधिष्ठिरः Yudhishthira? नकुलः Nakula? सहदेवः Sahadeva? च and? सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ (the conches named) Sughosha and Manipushpaka.No Commentary.
Shri Purohit Swami
1.16 The King Dharmaraja, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya, Nakalu and Sahadeo, the Sugosh and Manipushpaka, respectively.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
1.16. Kunti's son, the king Yudhisthira blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew [respectively] the Sughosa and the Manipuspaka.
Swami Adidevananda
1.16 King Yudhisthira the son of Kunti blew his conch Anantavijaya and Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conchs Sughosa and Manipuspaka.
Swami Gambirananda
1.16 King Yudhisthira, son of Kunti, (blew) the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva, the Sughosa and the Manipuspaka (respectively).
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।1.16।। No commentary.
Swami Ramsukhdas
।।1.16।। व्याख्या--'अनन्तविजयं राजा ৷৷. सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ'-- अर्जुन, भीम और युधिष्ठिर--ये तीनों कुन्तीके पुत्र हैं तथा नकुल और सहदेव--ये दोनों माद्रीके पुत्र हैं, यह विभाग दिखानेके लिये ही यहाँ युधिष्ठिरके लिये 'कुन्तीपुत्र' विशेषण दिया गया है। युधिष्ठिरको 'राजा' कहनेका तात्पर्य है कि युधिष्ठिरजी वनवासके पहले अपने आधे राज्य-(इन्द्रप्रस्थ-) के राजा थे, और नियमके अनुसार बारह वर्ष वनवास और एक वर्ष अज्ञातवासके बाद वे राजा होने चाहिये थे। 'राजा' विशेषण देकर सञ्जय यह भी संकेत करना चाहते हैं कि आगे चलकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर ही सम्पूर्ण पृथ्वीमण्डलके राजा होंगे।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।1.16।।कुन्तीपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिर ने अनन्त विजय नामक शंख और नकुल व सहदेव ने क्रमश: सुघोष और मणिपुष्पक नामक शंख बजाये।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।1.16।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.11.
Sri Anandgiri
।।1.16।।एतेषामीदृशीं प्रवृत्तिं प्रतीत्य परिपालनावकाशमासाद्य राज्ञो युद्धिष्ठिरस्यापि प्रवृत्तिं दर्शयति अनन्तेति। ज्यायसां भ्रातृ़णामनुसरणमावश्यकमिति मत्वा तयोर्यवीयसोर्भ्रात्रोरपि प्रवृत्तिमाह नकुल इति।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।1.15 1.19।।ततो युधिष्ठिरभीमादयश्च पृथक्पृथक् शङ्खान् दध्मुः। स घोषः दुर्योधनादिहृदयानि बिभेद।
Sridhara Swami
।।1.16।।अनन्तजयमिति। नकुलः सुघोषं नाम शङ्खं दध्मौ। सहदेवो मणिपुष्पकं नाम।