1.29
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते | न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ||२९||
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt tvak chaiva paridahyate na cha śhaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva cha me manaḥ
Translation
My bow slips from my hand, and my skin is burning; I am unable to stand here any longer, and my mind seems to whirl.
Interpretation
The mighty Gandiva, the divine bow, slips from Arjuna's hand — a powerful symbol. The warrior who can challenge the gods in battle cannot hold his own bow when faced with the prospect of killing his beloved ones. The mind whirls (bhramatīva) — he has lost his center.