This shloka shows how Arjuna’s inner sorrow has begun to express itself through the body.

In the previous shloka, Arjuna saw svajanam — “my own people” — gathered for war. That vision activated attachment. Attachment led to sorrow. Now the sorrow has become intense enough to create visible physical symptoms.

The first symptom is sīdanti mama gātrāṇi — “my limbs are sinking, weakening, or failing.” Arjuna is a mighty warrior. These are the arms that have handled Gāṇḍīva, fought great battles, and faced powerful enemies. Yet now, because the mind is overpowered by sorrow, even the limbs feel weak.

This is important. The problem begins in the mind, but it does not remain only in the mind. A powerful emotion can affect the body. Fear, grief, anxiety, and shock can make the hands weak, the legs unstable, and the whole body lose strength.

The second symptom is mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati — “my mouth is drying up.” The cause is not in the mouth. The cause is in the mind. Still, the mouth becomes dry. This is something everyone can understand. A person who has to speak in public may prepare everything carefully, but when standing before the microphone, the mouth suddenly dries up. The mental condition expresses through the body.

The third symptom is vepathuḥ ca śarīre me — “there is trembling in my body.” Arjuna’s whole body is shaking. Again, this is not because an external weapon has struck him. The trembling comes from within. The sorrowful imagination has become strong enough to disturb the body.

The fourth symptom is romaharṣaḥ ca jāyate — “my hairs stand on end.” This too is a bodily reaction to an intense inner condition. The mind is disturbed, and the body responds.

This did not happen from one single thought. Emotional collapse is usually built up. A first thought may arise: “What will happen to Bhīṣma? What will happen to Droṇa? What will life be without these people?” Then the mind repeats it. With repetition, the thought becomes stronger. A small ripple becomes a wave. The wave becomes powerful enough to overpower the person.

This shloka therefore shows the beginning of Arjuna’s breakdown at the physical level. Rāgaḥ has led to śokaḥ, and śokaḥ is now showing itself in the body. The warrior has not been defeated by an arrow. He is being shaken by his own sorrow-filled mind.