Verse 8
Na hi prapaśyāmi mama āpanudyād
yac chokaṁ ucchoṣaṇam indriyāṇām
avāpya bhūmāva-asapatnam ṛddhaṁ
rājyaṁ surāṇām api ca ādhipatyam
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- Na hi — Indeed not
- Prapaśyāmi — Do I see / can I find
- Mama āpanudyāt — That which can dispel my
- Yat śokam — This grief / sorrow
- Ucchoṣaṇam indriyāṇām — That dries up the senses (nervous exhaustion)
- Avāpya — Even if I obtain
- Bhūmau — On earth
- Asapatnam — Without rivals / enemies
- Ṛddham rājyaṁ — Prosperous kingdom
- Surāṇām api ca ādhipatyam — Even the sovereignty of the gods
I do not see anything that can remove my sorrow which is drying up my senses, not even if I were to obtain a prosperous, unrivaled kingdom on earth or lordship over the gods themselves.
Expanded Meaning:
Arjuna, continuing from the previous verse, expresses the depth of his despair. Even the highest worldly achievements—kingship over Earth or even heaven—cannot bring him relief from the sorrow that grips his heart and overwhelms his senses.
Contextual Analysis:
- Grief Beyond Material Remedies
Arjuna is articulating that his sorrow is not worldly, so worldly rewards—even the best of them—cannot resolve it. - “Ucchoṣaṇam indriyāṇām” — Drying Up the Senses
The impact of grief is not just emotional but physiological and psychological. Arjuna feels paralyzed, depleted, unable to act or think clearly. - Even Kingship is Meaningless
Arjuna isn’t merely renouncing war for fear or sentiment. He sees that power, luxury, or even heavenly status are empty in the face of inner turmoil and dharmic doubt.
Philosophical Interpretation:
- Material Gains Cannot Heal Spiritual Crisis
No amount of external success can substitute for internal peace or moral clarity. Arjuna is undergoing a spiritual crisis, not a strategic one. - Indic Understanding of Grief
In Vedic thought, śoka (grief) is a spiritual impurity that clouds buddhi (discriminative intelligence). Unless removed by jñāna (knowledge), it leads to inaction and delusion. - The Path to Liberation Begins Here
This verse is Arjuna’s declaration of helplessness. In the tradition of surrender, true spiritual instruction begins when all worldly props are seen as insufficient.
Spiritual Symbolism:
| Symbol | Inner Meaning |
|---|---|
| Śoka (Grief) | Inner agitation born from attachment and ignorance |
| Indriyāṇām ucchoṣaṇam | Exhaustion of mental and physical faculties due to inner conflict |
| Asapatnam ṛddham rājyaṁ | External success that offers no inner fulfillment |
| Ādhipatyam surāṇām | Even celestial power cannot cure the soul’s sorrow |
| Na prapaśyāmi | Honest self-reflection and admission of helplessness |
Modern-Day Relevance:
This verse mirrors the feelings of modern individuals facing:
- Existential depression despite material success
- The realization that power, money, or fame can’t heal emotional wounds
- A search for deeper meaning beyond societal measures of achievement
We live in a world where mental health issues persist even among the rich and successful. Arjuna’s words are timeless: No outer crown can silence inner chaos.
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever experienced a moment where external success felt meaningless?
What is the “grief” in your life that material solutions cannot resolve?
Do you acknowledge when your senses—your energy and spirit—feel depleted?
What deeper spiritual or emotional need might be calling for your attention?
Conclusion:
Arjuna’s grief is not simple sadness — it is existential suffering, born from a crisis of identity, duty, and purpose. This verse captures his complete vulnerability.
He understands that nothing in the material world—no throne or title—can substitute for inner peace. This raw honesty becomes the foundation for Krishna’s teachings to come.
The Gita here pivots from external argument to inner transformation. When the outer world offers no solace, the inner journey must begin.