In Bhagavad Gita 1.47, the last verse of Chapter 1, Sanjaya describes Arjuna casting aside his bow and arrows and sinking down on the chariot seat, his mind overwhelmed by sorrow.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये
रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
विसृज्य सशरं चापं
शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ १-४७ ॥
evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye
rathopastha upāviśat
visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ
śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ
English transliteration evamuktvaarjunah sankhye
rathopastha upaavishat
visrijya sasharam chaapam
shokasamvignamaanasah ॥ 1.47 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sank down on the seat of the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | thus |
| उक्त्वा uktvā | having spoken |
| अर्जुनः arjunaḥ | Arjuna |
| सङ्ख्ये saṅkhye | on the battlefield |
| रथोपस्थे rathopasthe | on the seat of the chariot ratha (chariot) + upasthe (on the seat) |
| उपाविशत् upāviśat | sat down |
| विसृज्य visṛjya | casting aside |
| सशरम् saśaram | with arrows sa (with) + śaram (arrow) |
| चापम् cāpam | the bow |
| शोकसंविग्नमानसः śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ | his mind overwhelmed with grief śoka (grief) + saṃvigna (agitated) + mānasaḥ (mind) |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–va–muk–tvār–ju–naḥ saṅ–khye 8 syllables e-va-muk-tvaar-ju-nah san-khye
- ra–tho–pas–tha u–pā–vi–śat | 8 syllables ra-tho-pas-tha u-paa-vi-shat
- vi–sṛj–ya sa–śa–raṃ cā–paṃ 8 syllables vi-srij-ya sa-sha-ram chaa-pam
- śo–ka–saṃ–vig–na–mā–na–saḥ || 1-47 8 syllables sho-ka-sam-vig-na-maa-na-sah
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 47
Context
The final verse of Chapter 1. Arjuna has finished speaking (1.46), and Sanjaya describes his collapse. Chapter 2 opens with Krishna’s response.
Meaning
The chapter ends with an image of total collapse: the greatest warrior of his time sits down in the middle of the battlefield, bow and arrows thrown aside. Sanjaya describes his mind as śoka-saṃvigna, shaken by grief. Nothing more can be said by Arjuna; everything now depends on Krishna.
This is why the chapter is called a yoga, even though it describes despair. Arjuna’s collapse is the necessary beginning. Only when our own resources are exhausted do we truly listen. The Gita’s wisdom is given not to the confident but to the one who has honestly reached the end of his own understanding.
In Practice
Remember a time when your own resources ran out. Reflect on what you learned that you could not have learned while you felt in control.
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.