Gita 11.25
दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि।
दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास।।
daṁṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa
"Seeing Your mouths, terrible with fangs, resembling the fire of cosmic dissolution—I lose my sense of direction and find no peace. Have mercy, O Lord of gods, O refuge of the universe!"
What This Means:
The mouths with fangs look like the fire at the end of time (kalanala—cosmic dissolution fire). Arjuna is disoriented (doesn't know directions) and finds no peace. He begs: 'Have mercy!'
Going Deeper:
The association with 'kala-anala' (time-fire, cosmic destruction) becomes explicit. Arjuna sees death itself in these mouths. His plea for mercy (prasida) is desperate, not formal.
How To Apply This:
When overwhelmed, asking for mercy is appropriate. You don't have to maintain composure with the Divine. Desperate prayer is valid prayer.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Kālānala= Fire of time/cosmic dissolutionŚarma= Peace, refugePrasīda= Have mercy, be gracious