Chapter 11, Verse 35
सञ्जय उवाच | एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी | नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ||११-३५||
sañjaya uvāca . etacchrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya kṛtāñjalirvepamānaḥ kirīṭī . namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ sagadgadaṃ bhītabhītaḥ praṇamya ||11-35||
Meaning
11.35 Sanjaya said Having heard that speech of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with joined palms, trembling, prostrating himself, again addressed Krishna, in a choked voice, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Sanjaya pauses the dialogue to paint Arjuna's state. Having heard Krishna name Himself as Time, the warrior is vepamanah, trembling; he stands with joined palms, bows again and again, and speaks sagadgadam — in a voice choked with emotion. The mighty archer is reduced to awe and fear before the vision he himself requested.
The detail is full of tenderness and truth. There is no shame in this trembling; it is the honest body of a soul touched by the Infinite. What follows in the coming verses is one of the most beautiful hymns of praise in the Gita — but it is born here, out of fear and reverence intertwined. The verse reminds us that genuine devotion is not always serene composure. Sometimes the deepest love and worship rise from a heart that is shaking, overwhelmed by a glory too great to contain. From that very trembling, the most sincere prayers are spoken.
💡 Key Takeaway
The most heartfelt worship can rise from a trembling heart overwhelmed by a glory too great to contain.
Related Verses
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया | त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ||११-२||
bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā . tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyamapi cāvyayam ||11-2||
11.2 The origin and the destruction of beings verily have been heard by me in detail from Thee, O lotus-eyed Lord, and also Thy inexhaustible greatness.
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर | द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ||११-३||
evametadyathāttha tvamātmānaṃ parameśvara . draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpamaiśvaraṃ puruṣottama ||11-3||
11.3 (Now) O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to see Thy divine form.
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो | योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ||११-४||
manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho . yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānamavyayam ||11-4||
11.4 If Thou, O Lord, thinkest it possible for me to see it, do Thou, then, O Lord of the Yogins, show me Thy imperishable Self.