Verse 1.28
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
अर्जुन उवाच | दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् | सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ||२८||
Transliteration (IAST)
arjuna uvāca | dṛṣṭvemaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam | sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati ||28||
Word-by-Word Meanings
स्वजनम्-my own people
युयुत्सुम्-eager to fight
सीदन्ति-are quivering
गात्राणि-limbs
मुखम्-mouth
परिशुष्यति-is drying up
Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen arrayed and eager to fight, my limbs quiver, my mouth dries up, my body trembles, and my hair stands on end.
Commentary
This is the beginning of Arjuna's famous lament. The physical symptoms - trembling limbs, dry mouth - are classic signs of acute anxiety. Arjuna's crisis is not cowardice but a profound moral conflict between duty as a warrior and love for his family. This verse marks the beginning of the existential crisis that necessitates Krishna's teaching.
Themes
dharmadutysurrender