Gita 1.29
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते।।
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati vepathuś ca śarīre me roma-harṣaś ca jāyate
"My limbs are failing, my mouth is drying up, my body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end."
What This Means:
Arjuna describes physical symptoms of extreme anxiety: weak limbs, dry mouth, trembling, goosebumps. His body is rebelling against the situation. This is a full-blown anxiety attack.
Going Deeper:
These are classic symptoms of the sympathetic nervous system in overdrive—fight-or-flight activated but with no clear action possible. Arjuna is experiencing what we'd today call acute stress response.
How To Apply This:
Recognize these physical symptoms of overwhelm in yourself: shaking, dry mouth, weakness. Your body communicates before your mind catches up. These signals deserve attention, not suppression.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Gātrāṇi= LimbsVepathu= TremblingRoma-harṣa= Hair standing on end, horripilation