nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśāla-netram dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇo
"Seeing You touching the sky, blazing with many colors, mouths wide open, with huge shining eyes—my inner self trembles, and I find neither courage nor calm, O Vishnu."
What This Means:
The form touches the sky, blazes with colors, has mouths OPEN WIDE, enormous glowing eyes. Arjuna's inner self (antaratma) trembles. He can't find courage (dhriti) or calm (shama).
Going Deeper:
The open mouths are disturbing—ready to consume. Arjuna loses both courage and peace. This isn't failure; it's appropriate response to overwhelming reality. Inner trembling is the honest report.
How To Apply This:
Losing composure before the infinite isn't weakness—it's accuracy. If you're genuinely encountering the sacred, your usual steadiness may fail. That's not a problem; it's recognition.
Key Sanskrit Terms: