Verse 2.34
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्। सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते॥
Transliteration (IAST)
akīrtiṁ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te 'vyayām sambhāvitasya cākīrtir maraṇād atiricyate
Word-by-Word Meanings
akīrtim-dishonor
bhūtāni-people
kathayiṣyanti-will speak
sambhāvitasya-for a respected person
maraṇāt-than death
Translation
People will speak of your everlasting dishonor, and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death.
Commentary
Krishna appeals to Arjuna's sense of honor. For a warrior of Arjuna's stature, the social disgrace of fleeing battle would be a fate worse than death. While this is a worldly argument, it addresses Arjuna at his current level of understanding.
Themes
dharmaduty