Geethartha Chinthane 63: Pandavas who fought for glory of their clan

The word ‘Madhava’ also refers to the Madhuvamsa lineage. Hence, the verse in the Gita refers to ‘Madhava Pandavas’ making the conch sound. The Madhuvamsa is synonymous with the Yaduvamsa, and Madhu, the son of Kartyaviryarjuna, was an important figure in this lineage. Krishna, referred to as Madhava, came from this lineage.

Arjuna was the torchbearer of the Pandava dynasty, and Madhava (Krishna) illuminated the glory of the Madhu dynasty. The Pandavas’ sole aim was to uphold and protect the glory of their dynasty, without any selfish motives. Those who fight for the honor of their lineage are held in high regard.

On the other hand, the Kauravas showed no interest in preserving their clan’s legacy; instead, their personal ambitions were evident. Duryodhana himself expressed this when he said “Mamasainyashcha” (my army). Their focus was on their own prestige and not on the glory of their dynasty.

The Pandavas’ conch is described as a divine conch with a significant history. In the verse “Panchajanyam Hrishikesho Devadattam Dhananjayaha” (Gita 1-15), the conch ‘Devadatta’ was a gift to Arjuna from the celestial beings. It was a conch bestowed by the gods to ensure victory. The Kauravas’ conch, however, lacked such a historical or divine significance. Valor and bravery were judged not by the number of weapons one possessed but by the blessings and boons received from divine beings.

State