Chapter1 Verse 28&29

 

Verse – 28&29 :

अर्जुन उवाच |

दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् || 28||

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति |

 

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते || 29|

Transliteration:

Arjuna uvAca

Drishtvemam svajanam kriShna yuyutsum samupasthitam ..28

sIdanti mama gAtrAni mukham ca parishuShyati.

Vepathushca sharIre me romaharShashca jAyate..29

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Word-by-word meaning:

दृष्टा – on seeing; इमम् – this;स्वजनं – relative; कृष्ण – Krishna; युयुत्सुं -  who wish to fight; समुपस्थितम् – arrayed; सीदन्ति – shivers; मम – my; गात्राणि – (body) parts; मुखं – mouth; च – and; परिशुष्यति – dries up; वेपथुश्च – sweats ; शरीरे  - body; मे – my; रोमहर्षश्च – goosebumps; जायते- occurs;

Meaning:

Arjuna says –

On seeing my relative(s) who are all arrayed up with the intention to fight, my body parts are shivering , my mouth dries up, by body sweats, I get goosebumps all over my body.

Significance:

Lamenting of Arjuna starts in this verse. On seeing the army , the warriors in both sides of the army. Arjuna lost his balance. His heart was filled with compassion and kindness. He says to Krishna that his body is showing signs . For a warrior like Arjuna, who has won innumerable battles, who has faced even Bhishma , Drona during the Virata war, the mere sight of the battle field and the warriors on both the sides gives shivering of his body. Mouth drying up is one symptom of anxiety. It is mentioned in psychology texts that – dryness of mouth will be accompanied by other symptoms like rapid pulse, sweating, restlessness , agitation. This book, as we said earlier is not a mere spiritual text but the best book on psycology. From this verse till the end of the chapter Arjuna will express his anxiety to Lord Krishna. He being the best counsellor, will listen with patience to Arjuna and will start his counselling sittings from the next chapter!