Verse 2.35
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः। येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhayād raṇād uparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahu-mato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam
Word-by-Word Meanings
bhayāt-out of fear
raṇāt-from battle
uparatam-withdrawn
mahā-rathāḥ-great warriors
lāghavam-insignificance
Translation
The great warriors will think you have withdrawn from battle out of fear, and those who held you in high esteem will consider you insignificant.
Commentary
Krishna continues the social argument: Arjuna's retreat will be interpreted not as moral sensitivity but as cowardice. The great warriors like Duryodhana will attribute his withdrawal to fear, not to philosophical conviction. This addresses the practical reality of how actions are perceived.
Themes
dharmaduty