Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 29

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥

Transliteration

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati .
vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ॥

Meaning

My limbs give way, my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end.

Word meanings

सीदन्ति – fail, give way
मम – my
गात्राणि – limbs
मुखम् – mouth
च – and
परिशुष्यति – is completely dry
वेपथुः – trembling
शरीरे – in the body
मे – my
रोमहर्षः – bristling of the hair
जायते – arises

Anvaya (word order)

मम गात्राणि सीदन्ति, मुखं च परिशुष्यति, मे शरीरे वेपथुः च रोमहर्षः च जायते ।

Explanation

Arjuna's despair first shows itself in his body. It is a deep truth of the human mind that an intense inner state quickly appears in the body. The Arjuna who moments ago stood with his bow raised in eagerness now feels his limbs go slack, his throat run dry, his body shake and his hair bristle.

These are the signs of both fear and grief. Yet Arjuna fears no enemy. He had won countless battles, had fought Lord Shiva himself and received the Pashupata weapon, and at the battle in Virata's kingdom had single-handedly routed the whole Kaurava army, Bhishma, Drona and Karna included. His fear is of losing his own people, of killing them with his own hands. It is born not outside but within.

Notice how often Arjuna says mama and me, 'my'. It is the same sense of 'mine' with which Dhritarashtra opened the Gita (mamakah). The difference is that Dhritarashtra's attachment pushed him towards injustice, while Arjuna's is turning him away from duty. In both cases the feeling of 'mine' clouds discernment.

Arjuna does not hide his condition; he lays it honestly before Krishna. Acknowledging one's weakness is the first step towards its cure.

Context

Arjuna's speech, begun in the second half of verse 28, continues: 'seeing my kinsmen', my limbs fail. In the next verse he describes his state further: the Gandiva slipping from his hand and his mind reeling.

Life lesson

Turmoil in the mind shows at once in the body; mental balance is the foundation of physical strength. Admitting our inner weakness before a true guide takes courage.

Key terms

Vepathu: trembling of the body
Romaharsha: bristling of the hair; horripilation
Gatra: limbs of the body