Chapter2 Shloka34 - Shrimad Bhagvad Gita

Shrimad Bhagvad Gita

Chapter 2 : Sankhya Yoga - The realm of truth

Ch 02 : Sh 34

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्‌ ।
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्ति-र्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥

Transliteration

akirtim capi bhutani kathayisyanti te 'vyayam
sambhavitasya cakirtir maranad atiricyate

Translation

People will always speak of your infamy, and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death.

Purport

Bhagvan Shri Krishna after reminding Arjuna about his natural duty as Kshatriya and renoucncing the same at crucial moment is sinful, explains the personal and social loss of ignoring duty.

Bhagvan explained Arjuna, that his(Arjuna’s) whole honor and fame is because he is a warrior. To fight for the protection of Dharma, society and humanity is but his prime duty. If he leaves this war, people will immediately conclude that he has run away from war field afraid of his life. People will mock him and will ridicule using unbearable languages. His honor as a warrior will be lost forever.
For a honourable person such loss of honour is worse than death.