The Gāṇḍīva slips from my hand, and my skin seems to burn; I cannot stand firm, and my mind seems to whirl

The bow Gāṇḍīva — symbol of Arjuna’s identity, gift from Agni, inseparable from his dharma as warrior — sraṃsate (slips, falls) from his hasta (hand). It is not that he releases it intentionally; the hand itself fails.

The skin (tvak) paridahyate (burns around, becomes inflamed) is somatization of anxiety. Na śaknomi (I am not able) denies his own śakti (power). The verb bhramati (whirls, wanders, is delirious) describes the bhrama (illusion/error) affecting the manas (mind) — the same root as brahman but in its confused aspect.

The mind that should discern (viveka) whirls without direction. The warrior has lost his instrument and his center.