Śaṅkha

Śaṅkha

Śaṅkha is a name used for more than one being and thing in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

Things and ideas

• Pāñcajanya: the divine śaṅkha (conch) of Kṛshṇa, one of Bhagavān Vishṇu‘s four great weapons, whose sound marks his presence in battle. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, dākshiṇātya prati, Chapter 38; Bhagavad Gītā 1.15; Mahābhārata, Bhīshma Parva, Chapter 23; Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapter 2; Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 3, 18, 36, 51, 58–59, 67; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 21, 23, 25, 33, 44, 47–49, 60, 63, 189, 219, 270, 303, 307, 374; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 1, Chapter 11; Skandha 2, Chapter 2; Skandha 3, Chapters 21, 28; Skandha 4, Chapters 8–9, 24; Skandha 5, Chapters 3, 7; Skandha 6, Chapters 1, 4, 8; Skandha 8, Chapters 4, 17–18, 20; Skandha 10, Chapters 3, 6, 13, 39, 45, 50, 56, 59, 73; Skandha 11, Chapters 11, 14, 27; Skandha 12, Chapter 11

People

• Śaṅkha the Asura: the son of the Ocean, who drove out the devas and stole the Vedas until Bhagavān Vishṇu, as a fish, killed him and Prayāga became the Tīrtharāja; the account is told in Śaṅkha, the Vedas and Prayāga. Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapters 90–91; Skanda Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 13
• Śaṅkha, Son of Virāṭa: a son of Virāṭa, king of Matsya, who fought for the Pāṇḍavas at Kurukshetra and later entered the Viśvedevas. Mahābhārata, Bhīshma Parva, Chapters 43–122; Mahābhārata, Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5

Named in passing

• Śaṅkha, the nāga: one of the great-hooded serpents who live in Pātāla, with Kulika, Mahāśaṅkha and others, under Vāsuki; told in Pātāla Lokas. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 24
• Śaṅkha, the mountain: one of the twenty mountains Īśvara set around the base of Meru; told in Meru Parvata. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 16
• Śaṅkha in Nārada‘s stuti: one of those whom Nārada foretold Śrī Kṛshṇa would slay after Kaṃsa, with Kālayavana, Mura and Naraka; told in Pañcajana, where he is taken as that sea-asura. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 10, Chapter 37