Chapter 02 – śloka 35:
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥
bhayādraṇāduparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahārathāḥ ।
yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ॥
Word-by-word meaning
bhayāt – out of fear;
raṇāt – from the battlefield;
uparatam – withdrawn or left off;
mansyante – will think;
tvām – you;
mahārathāḥ – the great warriors;
yeṣām – for whom;
ca – and;
tvam – you;
bahumataḥ – much thought of;
bhūtvā – having been;
yāsyasi – you will go;
lāghavam – decreased in value;
Meaning (in full)
The great warriors, who have thought much of you, will now think that you have left the battlefield out of fear, and you will lose their respect.
Context (śloka 35, 36 & 37)
If Arjuna abandons the war, his enemies will humiliate him badly while his own army will lose respect for him. However, if he fights the battle and wins, he stands to rule over the mighty Hastinapura kingdom. On the other hand, if he is killed on the battlefield, he will attain the higher worlds.
Chapter 02 – śloka 36:
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून् वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः ।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥
avācyavādāṁśca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ ।
nindantastava sāmarthyaṁ tato duḥkhataraṁ nu kim ॥
Word-by-word meaning
avācyavādān – unkind words;
ca – also;
bahūn – many;
vadiṣyanti – will say;
tava – your;
ahitāḥ – enemies;
nindantaḥ – defame or despise;
tava – your;
sāmarthyam – might or ability;
tataḥ – than that;
duḥkhataram – more painful;
nu – indeed;
kim – what is there;
Meaning (in full)
Your enemies will also defame you with many unkind words and despise your ability. What could be more painful than this?
Context (śloka 35, 36 & 37)
If Arjuna abandons the war, his enemies will humiliate him badly while his own army will lose respect for him. However, if he fights the battle and wins, he stands to rule over the mighty Hastinapura kingdom. On the other hand, if he is killed on the battlefield, he will attain the higher worlds.
Chapter 02 – śloka 37:
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm ।
tasmāduttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ ॥
Word-by-word meaning
hataḥ – being killed;
vā – either;
prāpsyasi – you attain;
svargam – celestial abode;
jitvā – by conquering;
vā – or;
bhokṣyase – you shall enjoy;
mahīm – the kingdom on earth;
tasmāt – therefore;
uttiṣṭha – arise or get up;
kaunteya – Arjuna, the son of Kunti;
yuddhāya – for fight;
kṛtaniścayaḥ – with determination;
Meaning (in full)
O son of Kunti (Arjuna), if you are killed, you will attain the celestial kingdom; or if you conquer [the enemy], you will enjoy the kingdom on earth. Therefore, arise with determination, and fight!
Context (śloka 35, 36 & 37)
If Arjuna abandons the war, his enemies will humiliate him badly while his own army will lose respect for him. However, if he fights the battle and wins, he stands to rule over the mighty Hastinapura kingdom. On the other hand, if he is killed on the battlefield, he will attain the higher worlds.