In Bhagavad Gita 11.35, Sanjaya says that hearing Krishna’s words, Arjuna, trembling, with joined palms, bowed and spoke again to Krishna in a choked voice, overwhelmed with fear.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य
कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी
नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं
सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ॥ ११-३५ ॥
etacchrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya
kṛtāñjalirvepamānaḥ kirīṭī
namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ
sagadgadaṃ bhītabhītaḥ praṇamya
English transliteration etachchhrutvaa vachanam keshavasya
kritaanjalirvepamaanah kireetee
namaskritvaa bhooya evaaha krishnam
sagadgadam bheetabheetah pranamya ॥ 11.35 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Keshava, the crowned Arjuna, trembling, with joined palms, bowed down and, overwhelmed with fear, spoke again to Krishna in a choked voice.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एतत् etat | this |
| श्रुत्वा śrutvā | hearing |
| वचनम् vacanam | words |
| केशवस्य keśavasya | of Keśava |
| कृताञ्जलिः kṛtāñjaliḥ | with joined palms |
| वेपमानः vepamānaḥ | trembling |
| किरीटी kirīṭī | the crowned one (Arjuna) |
| नमस्कृत्वा namaskṛtvā | bowing |
| भूयः bhūyaḥ | again |
| एव eva | indeed |
| आह āha | spoke |
| कृष्णम् kṛṣṇam | to Kṛṣṇa |
| सगद्गदम् sagadgadam | in a choked voice |
| भीतभीतः bhītabhītaḥ | overwhelmed with fear |
| प्रणम्य praṇamya | prostrating |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–tac–chrut–vā va–ca–naṃ ke–śa–vas–ya 11 syllables e-tach-chhrut-vaa va-cha-nam ke-sha-vas-ya
- kṛ–tāñ–ja–lir–ve–pa–mā–naḥ ki–rī–ṭī | 11 syllables kri-taan-ja-lir-ve-pa-maa-nah ki-ree-tee
- na–mas–kṛt–vā bhū–ya e–vā–ha kṛṣ–ṇaṃ 11 syllables na-mas-krit-vaa bhoo-ya e-vaa-ha krish-nam
- sa–gad–ga–daṃ bhī–ta–bhī–taḥ pra–ṇam–ya || 11-35 11 syllables sa-gad-ga-dam bhee-ta-bhee-tah pra-nam-ya
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 35
Context
Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s state before his prayer (11.35).
Meaning
Arjuna, called kirīṭin, the crowned one, trembles with folded hands. He bows again and again, and speaks sa-gadgadam, his voice choked with emotion. He is bhīta-bhīta, utterly overwhelmed by fear and awe.
The great warrior is humbled completely. His strength and skill mean nothing before the cosmic form. Only reverence remains.
In Practice
Bow once today with complete humility before the Divine, setting aside any sense of your own importance.
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.