Arjuna’s physical and mental breakdown reaches its devastating climax in the thirtieth verse. Known as the Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse, this is one of the most iconic and powerful moments in the entire Mahabharata. The hero’s identity, symbolized by his divine bow, literally falls away as his body and mind succumb completely to the overwhelming grief. The Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse is the point of utter helplessness.
Sanskrit Verse
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ ३० ॥Transliteration
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate |
na ca śaknomyavasthātuṁ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ || 30 ||Word for Word Translation
gāṇḍīvam – the bow of Arjuna; sraṁsate – is slipping; hastāt – from my hand; tvak – skin; ca – also; eva – certainly; paridahyate – is burning; na – nor; ca – also; śaknomi – am I able; avasthātum – to stand; bhramati – is whirling; iva – as if; ca – and; me – my; manaḥ – mind.
English Translation
My Gandiva bow is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning all over. I am no longer able to stand here, and my mind feels as if it is whirling.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse details the complete collapse of the hero. The symptoms are now extreme, affecting his identity, his body, and his mind.
- “My Gandiva is slipping from my hand”: This is the ultimate symbol of his crisis. The Gandiva is not just a weapon; it is his divine instrument, the symbol of his power, his identity as a warrior, and his sacred duty (dharma). For it to slip from his hand means he is losing his very self.
- “My skin is burning.”: This is a powerful psychosomatic symptom. The internal fire of his grief and mental anguish is so intense that it manifests as a physical burning sensation across his entire body.
- “I am unable to stand, and my mind is whirling”: This describes a state of vertigo. His inner balance is so completely lost that he can no longer maintain his physical balance. His mind, the seat of reason and clarity, is now in a state of utter confusion, spinning without a center.
The warrior Arjuna has been completely deconstructed. Every tool he relies on—his strength, his weapon, his steady mind—has failed him. The Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse shows a man at rock bottom, utterly broken by the impossible situation he faces in the Kurukshetra War.
Conclusion
The Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse teaches a profound and humbling lesson about the nature of crisis. It shows that there are moments in life when the very tools and identities that have always defined us can become useless. Our strength can fail, our skills can abandon us, and our minds can descend into chaos. Arjuna’s breakdown is a powerful reminder that our external identities are fragile.
Yet, it is only from this point of complete surrender and helplessness that a true spiritual journey can begin. One must first lose their grip on their old self before they can reach for a higher truth. The Gandivam Sramsate Hastat verse is not just an ending; it is the necessary and painful beginning of Arjuna’s transformation from a great warrior to a great seeker.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 31 – Nimittani Cha Pashyami
