The bow slips from his hand

gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyatena ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ

My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, my skin is burning, I can't stand steady, and my mind is spinning.

What it means

Gandiva is Arjuna's legendary bow, a gift from the gods. Now it is sliding from his grip. His skin feels on fire. He cannot keep his balance. His mind is whirling. The symbol of his identity as a warrior is falling, along with his certainty.

The story

Everyone knows Arjuna by his bow. Losing his grip on it means losing his sense of who he is. This is where the Gita begins its real work. Not on the battlefield outside, but in a man whose inner world has just turned upside down.

In your life

Imagine an athlete after an injury, or a parent whose child has left home. The role that defined you suddenly isn't there. It's disorienting. Be patient with yourself. You are more than the thing you hold.