My bow slips from my hand. My skin burns. I cannot stand steady, and my mind reels.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.30
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.
गाण्डीवम्the Gandiva bowस्रंसतेslipsहस्तात्from the handत्वक्skinचandएवindeedपरिदह्यतेburnsनnotचandशक्नोमिI am ableअवस्थातुम्to standभ्रमतिreelsइवlikeचandमेmyमनःmind
Read literallythe Gandiva bow · slips · from the hand · skin · and · indeed · burns · not · and · I am able · to stand · reels · like · and · my · mind
Understanding the verse
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Gandiva slips from Arjuna's hand, his skin burns, and he can no longer stand steady.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna is overwhelmed by fear and grief. His body shakes, his bow slips, and he cannot steady his mind or even stand.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna stands before the armies and begins to break down. His bow, Gandiva, slips from his hand, his skin burns, and his mind spins. This is the moment his crisis becomes physical.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You are about to speak in a meeting, but your throat tightens and your hands shake. The body knows before the mind admits it: this is too much right now.
The takeaway
“Overwhelm can make even strength feel useless. The body and mind collapse together when fear takes over.”
Arjuna is overwhelmed by fear and grief. His body shakes, his bow slips, and he cannot steady his mind or even stand.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.30?
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 1.30?
Verse 30 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 1.30 matter today?
You are about to speak in a meeting, but your throat tightens and your hands shake. The body knows before the mind admits it: this is too much right now.
Gandiva slips from Arjuna's hand, his skin burns, and he can no longer stand steady.
What this verse means
Arjuna is overwhelmed by fear and grief. His body shakes, his bow slips, and he cannot steady his mind or even stand.
Context & commentary
Arjuna stands before the armies and begins to break down. His bow, Gandiva, slips from his hand, his skin burns, and his mind spins. This is the moment his crisis becomes physical.
What it looks like today
You are about to speak in a meeting, but your throat tightens and your hands shake. The body knows before the mind admits it: this is too much right now.
“Overwhelm can make even strength feel useless. The body and mind collapse together when fear takes over.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses)