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. Tap 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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Arjuna's body gives out first: weak limbs, a dry mouth, trembling, and hair standing on end.
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
Arjuna stands before his own relatives and teachers on Kurukshetra. 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
What it looks like today
Waiting for the surgeon to come out and give your family the results, your mouth goes dry and your legs feel weak. Arjuna describes that same body, shaking before he has said what he thinks.
The takeaway
“Overwhelm shows up in the body before it becomes a decision.”
Arjuna's body is breaking under the pressure of what he sees. His strength, speech, and composure are all slipping away at once.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.29?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 1.29?
Verse 29 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 1.29 matter today?
Waiting for the surgeon to come out and give your family the results, your mouth goes dry and your legs feel weak. Arjuna describes that same body, shaking before he has said what he thinks.
Arjuna's body gives out first: weak limbs, a dry mouth, trembling, and hair standing on end.
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
Arjuna stands before his own relatives and teachers on Kurukshetra. 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.
What it looks like today
Waiting for the surgeon to come out and give your family the results, your mouth goes dry and your legs feel weak. Arjuna describes that same body, shaking before he has said what he thinks.
“Overwhelm shows up in the body before it becomes a decision.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna vishada (14 verses)