Chapter I · Śloka 28
Arjuna uvāca
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् |
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ||
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ||
dṛṣṭv emaṃ sva-janaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam |
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati ||
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati ||
Seeing these my kinsmen, O Krishna, gathered here eager to fight, my limbs fail and my mouth becomes parched.
The body speaks before the mind can rationalize. Arjuna's symptoms — quivering limbs, dryness of mouth — are the honest response of a compassionate being confronted with imminent destruction. The Gita honors these symptoms before transcending them.