Gita 11.35
सञ्जय उवाच।
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी।
नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य।।
sañjaya uvāca etac chrutvā vacanaṁ keśavasya kṛtāñjalir vepamānaḥ kirīṭī namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṁ sa-gadgadaṁ bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya
"Sanjaya said: Having heard these words of Keshava, the crowned one (Arjuna), with joined palms, trembling, bowing again, spoke to Krishna in a faltering voice, overwhelmed with fear."
What This Means:
Sanjaya describes: Arjuna heard Krishna's declaration, and now—trembling (vepamana), voice breaking (gadgadam), overwhelmed with fear (bhita-bhitah)—he bows again and speaks.
Going Deeper:
Arjuna's response to 'I am Time' isn't relief but deeper fear. The truth hasn't calmed him—it's intensified his awe. Voice breaking indicates he can barely speak.
How To Apply This:
Truth doesn't always calm us—it can intensify experience. Arjuna's trembling increases after hearing the answer. Understanding the terrifying can be more terrifying than confusion.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Vepamāna= TremblingGadgada= Faltering, breaking voiceBhīta-bhīta= Very afraid