In Bhagavad Gita 1.30, Arjuna says that his bow Gandiva is slipping from his hand, his skin burns, he cannot stand steady and his mind seems to whirl.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्
त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं
भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ १-३० ॥
gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāt
tvakcaiva paridahyate
na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ
bhramatīva ca me manaḥ
English transliteration gaandeevam sramsate hastaat
tvakchaiva paridahyate
na cha shaknomyavasthaatum
bhramateeva cha me manah ॥ 1.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over. I am unable to stand steady, and my mind seems to be reeling.
Arjuna’s description of his condition runs from 1.28 to 1.30.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गाण्डीवम् gāṇḍīvam | the bow Gāṇḍīva |
| स्रंसते sraṃsate | slips |
| हस्तात् hastāt | from the hand |
| त्वक् tvak | skin |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| परिदह्यते paridahyate | burns all over |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| शक्नोमि śaknomi | I am able |
| अवस्थातुम् avasthātum | to stand |
| भ्रमति bhramati | whirls |
| इव iva | as if |
| च ca | and |
| मे me | my |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
Word-wise Chanting
- gāṇ–ḍī–vaṃ sraṃ–sa–te has–tāt– 8 syllables gaan-dee-vam sram-sa-te has-taat-
- tvak–cai–va pa–ri–dah–ya–te | 8 syllables tvak-chai-va pa-ri-dah-ya-te
- na ca śak–nom–ya–vas–thā–tuṃ 8 syllables na cha shak-nom-ya-vas-thaa-tum
- bhra–ma–tī–va ca me ma–naḥ || 1-30 8 syllables bhra-ma-tee-va cha me ma-nah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 30
Context
Arjuna continues the description of his collapse begun in 1.28–1.29.
Meaning
Gandiva was a divine bow, the very symbol of Arjuna’s power and identity as a warrior. Now it slips from his grasp. His skin burns, his legs cannot hold him, and his mind spins. Body, identity and mind are all giving way together. This is not a reasoned refusal to fight; it is a breakdown.
When the instrument of our purpose slips from our hands, we face the question of who we are without it. Arjuna’s crisis is a crisis of identity. The Gita will answer it by showing him a deeper identity, the Self that is not shaken when roles and powers fail (2.20). The slipping bow is the beginning of that discovery.
In Practice
Ask yourself what you would still be if your main role or skill were taken away. Write down three qualities that would remain.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.