tasya sañjanayan harṣaḿ
kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
siḿha-nādaḿ vinadyoccaiḥ
śańkhaḿ dadhmau pratāpavān

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 1.12

Then Bhishma, 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.

Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya:

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 Krishna was on the other side. But still, it was his duty to conduct the fight, and no pains would be spared in that connection.

Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya:

Bhisma, 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 simha-nadam vinadya uses the same root nod twice. The literal meaning is roaring the roar of a lion. The intended meaning is “roaring like a lion,” according to the sutra upamane karmani. (Panini 3.4.45)

Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:

1.1 – 1.19 Dhrtarastra said — Sanjaya said — Duryodhana, after viewing the forces of Pandavas protected by Bhima, and his own forces protected by Bhisma conveyed his views thus to Drona, his teacher, about the adequacy of Bhima’s forces for conquering the Kaurava forces and the inadequacy of his own forces for victory against the Pandava forces. He was grief-stricken within. Observing his (Duryodhana’s) despondecny, Bhisma, in order to cheer him, roared like a lion, and then blowing his conch, made his side sound their conchs and kettle-drums, which made an uproar as a sign of victory. Then, having heard that great tumult, Arjuna and Sri Krsna the Lord of all lords, who was acting as the charioteer of Arjuna, sitting in their great chariot which was powerful enough to conquer the three worlds; blew their divine conchs Srimad Pancajanya and Devadatta. Then, both Yudhisthira and Bhima blew their respective conchs separately. That tumult rent asunder the hearts of your sons, led by Duryodhana. The sons of Dhrtarastra then thought, ‘Our cause is almost lost now itself.’ So said Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra who was longing for their victory. Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: Then, seeing the Kauravas, who were ready for battle, Arjuna, who had Hanuman, noted for his exploit of burning Lanka, as the emblem on his flag on his chariot, directed his charioteer Sri Krsna, the Supreme Lord-who is overcome by parental love for those who take shelter in Him who is the treasure-house of knowledge, power, lordship, energy, potency and splendour, whose sportive delight brings about the origin, sustentation and dissolution of the entire cosmos at His will, who is the Lord of the senses, who controls in all ways the senses inner and outer of all, superior and inferior — by saying, ‘Station my chariot in an appropriate place in order that I may see exactly my enemies who are eager for battle.

Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:

Bhishmadeva hearing such words of high esteem, roared like a lion and to gladden the heart of Duryodhana blew a thunderous blast from his conch shell.

Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:

Sri Madhvacarya did not comment on this sloka.

Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:

So Duryodhana full of internal anxiety deceptively addressed the preceptor Dronacarya attempting to conceal his fear at the might of the Pandava army. Drona understanding the offensive innuendo by the words inner significance ignored Duryodhana being dissatisfied by the subtle sarcasm concealed within the words. At this time the valiant grandsire Bhishma perceiving Duryodhana’s inner despondency, roared like a lion and blew a thunderous blast on his conch shell just to increase Duryodhana’s joy.

Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:

1.12 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.

Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:

1.12 — 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.

Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:

tasya sanjanayan harsam
kuru-vrddhah pitamahah
simha-nadam vinadyoccaih
sankham dadhmau pratapavan

Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:

tasya — his; sañjanayan — increasing; harṣam — cheerfulness; kuru-vṛddhaḥ — the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma); pitāmahaḥ — the grandfather; siḿha-nādam — roaring sound, like that of a lion; vinadya — vibrating; uccaiḥ — very loudly; śańkham — conchshell; dadhmau — blew; pratāpa-vān — the valiant.