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Verse 2.35
Swadharma and the Kshatriya Responsibility
श्रीभगवानुवाच (The Supreme Lord said)

Bhagavad Gita · Verse 2.35

Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (सांख्ययोगः)

श्रीभगवानुवाच

(The Supreme Lord said)

भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः । येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥३५॥

bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyante tvāṃ mahārathāḥ | yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ||35||

Complete Shloka Translation

en

The great warriors will think you withdrew from battle out of fear. Those who once esteemed you will come to regard you lightly.

Narrative Context: Krishna considers how other warriors would judge Arjuna's retreat.

Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)

12 words
भयात्bhayāt

from fear

लाघवम्lāghavam

loss of esteem

भयाद्रणादुपरतंbhayādraṇāduparataṃ

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

मंस्यन्तेmaṃsyante

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

त्वांtvāṃ

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

महारथाःmahārathāḥ

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

येषांyeṣāṃ

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

त्वंca

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

बहुमतोtvaṃ

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

भूत्वाbahumato

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

यास्यसिbhūtvā

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

३५lāghavam

[term] in context of The great warriors will think ...

Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts

Krishna describes how fellow warriors may interpret the refusal, not what actually motivates Arjuna. Reputation and inner intention can diverge.

Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry

"Others may misread Arjuna's moral hesitation as fear."

Inquiry Question to Ponder:

When have others misunderstood the reason for your hesitation?

Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)

Apply this verse when facing identity crisis or fear of failure: distinguish the unchanging inner self from transient life situations, and act with full dedication without anxiety over the final outcome.

Concepts:
Honour
Fear
Judgment