Verses 29–31
29
vepathuś ca śarīre me roma-harṣaś ca jāyate
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt tvak caiva paridahyate
30
na ca śaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava
31
na ca śreyo ‘nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanam āhave
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- vepathuḥ — trembling
- śarīre — in the body
- me — my
- roma-harṣaḥ — hair standing on end
- jāyate — is happening
- gāṇḍīvam — (the bow named) Gandiva
- sraṁsate — slipping
- hastāt — from (my) hand
- tvak — skin
- paridahyate — burning all over
- na — not
- śaknomi — am I able
- avasthātum — to stand steadily
- bhramati — whirls
- iva — as if
- me manaḥ — my mind
- nimittāni — signs or omens
- paśyāmi — I see
- viparītāni — inauspicious, adverse
- keśava — O Krishna
- na — not
- śreyaḥ — good, auspicious result
- anupaśyāmi — do I foresee
- hatvā — by killing
- svajanam — kinsmen
- āhave — in battle
Verse 29:
Trembling comes upon my body, and my hair stands on end; my bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over.
Verse 30:
I am unable to stand steady, and my mind seems to whirl in confusion. I see only adverse omens, O Krishna.
Verse 31:
I do not see any good in killing my own people in this battle.
Expanded Commentary and Interpretation
The Warrior’s Breakdown Deepens
These three verses describe Arjuna’s complete physical, emotional, and spiritual collapse in the face of war. The great archer—once confident and invincible—is now physically trembling, mentally spinning, and emotionally broken.
1. Physical Symptoms as a Mirror
In verse 29, Arjuna lists a range of physical symptoms:
- Trembling limbs (vepathuḥ)
- Horripilation (hair standing on end)
- Burning skin
- The Gandiva bow slipping from his hands
These are signs of extreme stress, even trauma. This isn’t cowardice; it’s a profound existential crisis.
His body rebels against his will. Even though his dharma as a warrior calls him to fight, his body won’t cooperate.
2. Cognitive Collapse
In verse 30, Arjuna says his mind is spinning (“bhramati me manaḥ”) and he cannot even stand steady.
This represents:
- Mental disorientation
- Emotional overload
- A spiritual fog where purpose and clarity vanish
His inner compass is broken, and no logic or discipline can correct it.
3. Seeing Evil Omens
“I see bad omens, O Krishna!”
This phrase reveals Arjuna’s intuitive understanding: something is not right with this war. Even though his cause is just, it feels morally perverse to fight one’s own kin.
These “omens” symbolize:
- Conscience trying to speak
- The deeper, spiritual unease below the surface
- A call to reconsider the path being taken
4. “I See No Good in Killing My Own People”
This is the emotional core of the entire passage.
Arjuna is overwhelmed not by fear of death, but by the cost of victory. He doesn’t want a kingdom built on the blood of brothers.
This echoes in real life:
“What’s the use of winning if I lose my soul in the process?”
He says, “na cha shreyo’nupashyami” — “I do not see any good, any auspicious outcome.”
It is the cry of a soul torn between duty and love, between justice and compassion.
Symbolism and Psychological Insights
Arjuna as the Mirror of the Human Soul
These verses are not just about a battle — they’re about every inner war where your values collide with reality.
Arjuna’s trembling = When your inner world collapses under external pressure
Slipping of Gandiva = Loss of control, skill, and confidence
Mind whirling = Cognitive dissonance and decision fatigue
Seeing bad omens = Intuition signaling a deeper misalignment
Inner Conflict Between Role and Reality
Arjuna’s role as a warrior is in conflict with his reality as a nephew, student, and friend.
- This is a common human experience — being asked to fulfill a role that violates your inner truth.
- It brings pain, confusion, and ultimately — growth, if one listens deeply.
Spiritual Interpretation
These verses mark the collapse of the ego—the old Arjuna is dying. What will emerge is a seeker ready to listen to divine wisdom.
Just as coal must be crushed to become a diamond, Arjuna’s worldly understanding must collapse before Krishna can give him eternal wisdom.
Philosophical Insights
1. Emotional Honesty is the First Step to Liberation
Arjuna doesn’t pretend. He doesn’t mask his fear. He expresses raw vulnerability — and this opens the door for Krishna’s teachings.
This teaches us: Don’t suppress the heart’s tremble. Express it to your inner guide.
2. Conflict is Not Always Evil
These verses show that internal conflict is sacred. It forces introspection. It burns the ego. It asks you to find a deeper truth beyond surface roles and inherited duties.
3. Dharma Must Align with Conscience
Arjuna’s dharma (warrior duty) is clashing with his conscience. The Gita doesn’t ignore this—it sits in the tension, and helps him find a higher dharma based on selfless wisdom, not blind role-fulfillment.
Reflection Questions
Use these to explore your own “inner battlefield”:
1. What is your “Gandiva slipping” moment?
- When have you felt like your confidence or skills abandoned you under pressure?
- What did your body and mind tell you in those moments?
2. Are you facing a role-reality conflict?
- Are there situations where your job, duty, or role contradicts your values?
- How do you reconcile them?
3. Do you listen to “bad omens”?
- What signs or intuitive nudges do you feel before big decisions?
- Do you suppress them, or sit with them in reflection?
4. What are you unwilling to sacrifice — even for success?
- Arjuna couldn’t stomach the price of victory if it meant killing his own.
- What values are non-negotiable for you?
Conclusion
These verses reflect the depth of Arjuna’s humanity. He’s not a failed warrior—he’s a sincere seeker.
In his trembling, we find a mirror of our own moral struggles. In his doubt, we find the sacred pause before divine wisdom speaks.
Krishna listens—not to judge, but to guide.
Before the Gita teaches us how to act, it shows us how to feel, how to tremble with authenticity, and how to kneel in confusion.
Because the soul must first empty itself of arrogance and pride… before it can be filled with divine truth.