In Bhagavad Gita 18.74, Sanjaya says he has heard this wondrous, hair-raising dialogue between Vasudeva and the great-souled Partha.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य
पार्थस्य च महात्मनः
संवादमिममश्रौषम्
अद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम् ॥ १८-७४ ॥
ityahaṃ vāsudevasya
pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
saṃvādamimamaśrauṣam
adbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam
English transliteration ityaham vaasudevasya
paarthasya cha mahaatmanah
samvaadamimamashrausham
adbhutam romaharshanam ॥ 18.74 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: Thus I have heard this wondrous dialogue between Vasudeva and the great-souled Partha, which makes my hair stand on end.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इति iti | thus |
| अहम् aham | I |
| वासुदेवस्य vāsudevasya | of Vāsudeva |
| पार्थस्य pārthasya | of Pārtha |
| च ca | and |
| महात्मनः mahātmanaḥ | great-souled |
| संवादम् saṃvādam | dialogue |
| इमम् imam | this |
| अश्रौषम् aśrauṣam | have heard |
| अद्भुतम् adbhutam | wondrous |
| रोमहर्षणम् romaharṣaṇam | which makes the hair stand on end roma (hair) + harṣaṇam (thrilling) |
Word-wise Chanting
- it–ya–haṃ vā–su–de–vas–ya 8 syllables it-ya-ham vaa-su-de-vas-ya
- pār–thas–ya ca ma–hāt–ma–naḥ | 8 syllables paar-thas-ya cha ma-haat-ma-nah
- saṃ–vā–da–mi–ma–maś–rau–ṣam– 8 syllables sam-vaa-da-mi-ma-mash-rau-sham-
- ad–bhu–taṃ ro–ma–har–ṣa–ṇam || 18-74 8 syllables ad-bhu-tam ro-ma-har-sha-nam
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 18 Verse 74
Context
Sanjaya concludes his narration to Dhritarashtra (18.74–18.78).
Meaning
Sanjaya, who has narrated the whole dialogue to the blind king, now speaks of his own experience. The dialogue between Vāsudeva and the mahātmā Arjuna is adbhuta, wondrous, and roma-harṣaṇa, so moving that his hair stands on end.
The Gita is not merely philosophy; it is a profoundly moving experience for those who truly hear it.
In Practice
Recall a moment when a teaching or truth moved you deeply, and let that feeling return.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.