Chapter 1: Arjuna's Sorrow - Verse 29,30 & 31© S.Kavita
Dec 4, 2000
Arjuna describes his physical and mental state to Krishna after being overwhelmed by compassion on seeing his near and dear ones in the army of the Kauravas.
Verse 29:
"sidanti mama gatrani
mukham ca parisusyati
vepathus ca sarire me
roma-harsas ca jayate
"
(29)My limbs are weakened, my mouth gets parched, my body trembles and my hair stands erect.
Explanation: Being soft and kind hearted, Arjuna is shaken when he finds his own blood relatives anxious to fight with him and the Pandavas. The weakening and trembling of his limbs show his despair.
The trembling of his body and the hair standing erect indicate that he was in material fear - the loss of life.
Verse 30:
"gandivam sramsate hastat
tvak caiva paridahyate
na ca saknomy avasthatum
bhramativa ca me manah
"
(30)
My bow Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin is burning. I can no longer withstand it. My mind is reeling.
Explanation: Both the armies had friends standing against each other.
Arjuna's bow Gandiva was slipping from his hands and he felt a burning sensation on his skin because he heart was not in peace. He was disturbed because of his materialistic conception of life.
Due to his impatience, Arjuna was unable to stay on the battlefield, and he was forgetting himself on account of the weakness of his mind.
Man's misconception of life torments him in unperceivable ways!
Verse 31:
"nimittani ca pasyami
viparitani kesava
na ca sreyo 'nupasyami
hatva sva-janam ahave
"
(31) I see, Krishna, inauspicious omens. I foresee no good killing my kinsmen in the fight.
Explanation:
Arjuna fears that the battle would only cause destruction of life and property and result in unhappiness for him. He fails to see any good in killing own relatives for the kingdom.
Arjuna was born a ksatriya(warrior). It was his duty to protect his kingdom and rule. By refusing to fight, Arjuna choses the path of retiring into the forests and leading a life of failure.
He is reluctant to perform his duty.
Arjuna's trembling hands and reluctance to fight is described in the above stanzas.
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