My limbs are failing, my mouth is drying up, my body trembles, and my hair stands on end.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.29
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले हे कृष्ण युद्ध की इच्छावाले इस कुटुम्बसमुदाय को अपने सामने उपस्थित देखकर मेरे अङ्ग शिथिल हो रहे हैं और मुख सूख रहा है तथा मेरे शरीर में कँपकँपी आ रही है एवं रोंगटे खड़े हो रहे हैं । हाथ से गाण्डीव धनुष गिर रहा है और त्वचा भी जल रही है । मेरा मन भ्रमितसा हो रहा है और मैं खड़े रहने में भी असमर्थ हो रहा हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
सीदन्तिare failingममmyगात्राणिlimbsमुखंmouthचandपरिशुष्यतिdries upवेपथुःtremblingचandशरीरेin the bodyमेmyरोम-हर्षःstanding of hairचandजायतेarises
Read literallyare failing · my · limbs · mouth · and · dries up · trembling · and · in the body · my · standing of hair · and · arises
Understanding the verse
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It teaches you to notice distress as a physical signal, not just a mental opinion.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna's body is breaking under the pressure of what he sees. His strength, speech, and composure are all slipping away at once.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands before his own relatives and teachers. Seeing them in the opposing army, his body begins to fail: his limbs weaken, his mouth dries, and fear shakes him. This verse deepens his collapse before Krishna answers.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You open the message you were dreading, and your hands go cold before you even reply. The body often knows the cost of a hard truth first.
The takeaway
“Overwhelm shows up in the body before it becomes a decision.”
It teaches you to notice distress as a physical signal, not just a mental opinion.
What this verse means
Arjuna's body is breaking under the pressure of what he sees. His strength, speech, and composure are all slipping away at once.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands before his own relatives and teachers. Seeing them in the opposing army, his body begins to fail: his limbs weaken, his mouth dries, and fear shakes him. This verse deepens his collapse before Krishna answers.
Why this verse still matters
You open the message you were dreading, and your hands go cold before you even reply. The body often knows the cost of a hard truth first.
“Overwhelm shows up in the body before it becomes a decision.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna vishada (14 verses)