In Bhagavad Gita 11.14, Sanjaya says that Arjuna, filled with wonder and with hair standing on end, bowed his head to the Lord and spoke with joined palms.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो
हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं
कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥ ११-१४ ॥
tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo
hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ
praṇamya śirasā devaṃ
kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata
English transliteration tatah sa vismayaavishto
hrishtaromaa dhananjayah
pranamya shirasaa devam
kritaanjalirabhaashata ॥ 11.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Then Dhananjaya, overcome with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the God and spoke with joined palms.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| सः saḥ | he |
| विस्मयाविष्टः vismayāviṣṭaḥ | overcome with wonder vismaya (wonder) + āviṣṭaḥ (overcome) |
| हृष्टरोमा hṛṣṭaromā | with hair standing on end hṛṣṭa (thrilled) + romā (hair) |
| धनञ्जयः dhanañjayaḥ | Dhanañjaya |
| प्रणम्य praṇamya | bowing |
| शिरसा śirasā | with the head |
| देवम् devam | to the God |
| कृताञ्जलिः kṛtāñjaliḥ | with joined palms kṛta (made) + añjaliḥ (joined palms) |
| अभाषत abhāṣata | spoke |
Word-wise Chanting
- ta–taḥ sa vis–ma–yā–viṣ–ṭo 8 syllables ta-tah sa vis-ma-yaa-vish-to
- hṛṣ–ṭa–ro–mā dha–nañ–ja–yaḥ | 8 syllables hrish-ta-ro-maa dha-nan-ja-yah
- pra–ṇam–ya śi–ra–sā de–vaṃ 8 syllables pra-nam-ya shi-ra-saa de-vam
- kṛ–tāñ–ja–li–ra–bhā–ṣa–ta || 11-14 8 syllables kri-taan-ja-li-ra-bhaa-sha-ta
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 11 Verse 14
Context
Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s response before Arjuna speaks (11.14).
Meaning
Arjuna is vismaya-āviṣṭa, overwhelmed with wonder. His body responds: his hair stands on end. He bows his head and folds his hands in añjali, the gesture of reverence, and begins to speak.
Wonder naturally leads to reverence. When we truly perceive the sacred, the ego bows and the heart opens.
In Practice
When something fills you with wonder today, let it lead you to a moment of reverence.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). 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.