bhayāt—out of fear; raṇāt—from the battlefield; uparatam—have fled; maṁsyante—will think; tvām—you; mahā-rathāḥ—warriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors; yeṣhām—for whom; cha—and; tvam—you; bahu-mataḥ—high esteemed; bhūtvā—having been; yāsyasi—you will loose; lāghavam—decreased in value
English translation
The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in low esteem by those who have held you in high regard.
Translation by Swami Sivananda
Hindi meaning
।।2.35।। और जिनके लिए तुम बहुत माननीय हो उनके लिए अब तुम तुच्छता को प्राप्त होओगे, वे महारथी लोग तुम्हें भय के कारण युद्ध से निवृत्त हुआ मानेंगे।।
Hindi rendering by Swami Tejomayananda
English meaning
Great generals will think that you have fled from the battlefield out of cowardice; though once honored, you will seem despicable.
Shri Purohit Swami
The mighty charioteers will think of you as having withdrawn from the battle out of fear; having been highly esteemed by these men, you will be viewed lightly.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Detailed explanation
Duryodhana and others will certainly think that you have fled from the battle from fear of Karna and others, but not through compassion and reverence for elders and teachers. Duryodhana and others who have shown great esteem to you on account of your chivalry, bravery and other noble alities, will think very lightly of you and treat you with contempt.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
Hindi commentary
।।2.35।। भावी इतिहास में तो तुम्हारी अपकीर्ति बनी रहेगी ही परन्तु वर्तमान में भी शत्रु पक्ष के ये महारथी तुम्हारा उपहास करेंगे। इस भ्रातृहन्ता युद्ध से तुम्हें जो दुख है उसे न समझकर वे तो यही मानेंगे कि तुमने भय और कायरता के कारण युद्ध से पलायन किया है। इस प्रकार का अनादरपूर्ण कायरता का आरोप कोई भी वीर पुरुष सहन नहीं कर सकता विशेषरूप से जब अपने ही तुल्य बल के शत्रुओं द्वारा वह किया गया हो। और
Swami Chinmayananda
2.35।। व्याख्या-- 'भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः'-- तू ऐसा समझता है कि मैं तो केवल अपना कल्याण करनेके लिये युद्धसे उपरत हुआ हूँ; परन्तु अगर ऐसी ही बात होती और युद्धको तू पाप समझता, तो पहले ही एकान्तमें रहकर भजन-स्मरण करता और तेरी युद्धके लिये प्रवृत्ति भी नहीं होती। परन्तु तू एकान्तमें न रहकर युद्धमें प्रवृत्त हुआ है। अब अगर तू युद्धसे निवृत्त होगा तो बड़े-बड़े महारथीलोग ऐसा ही मानेंगे कि युद्धमें मारे जानेके भयसे ही अर्जुन युद्धसे निवृत्त हुआ है। अगर वह धर्मका विचार करता तो युद्धसे निवृत्त नहीं होता; क्योंकि युद्ध करना क्षत्रियका धर्म है। अतः वह मरनेके भयसे ही युद्धसे निवृत्त हो रहा है।
'येषाँ च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्'-- भीष्म, द्रोणाचार्य, कृपाचार्य, शल्य आदि जो बड़े-बड़े महारथी है, उनकी दृष्टिमें तू बहुमान्य हो चुका है अर्थात् उनके मनमें यह एक विश्वास है कि युद्ध करनेमें नामी शूरवीर तो अर्जुन ही है। वह युद्धमें अनेक दैत्यों, देवताओं, गन्धर्वों आदिको हरा चुका है। अगर अब तू युद्धसे निवृत्त हो जायगा, तो उन महारथियोंके सामने तू लधुता-(तुच्छता-) को प्राप्त हो जायगा अर्थात् उनकी दृष्टिमें तू गिर जायगा।
Swami Ramsukhdas
Key teachings
Duryodhana and others will certainly think that you have fled from the battle from fear of Karna and others, but not through compassion and reverence for elders and teachers.
Duryodhana and others who have shown great esteem to you on account of your chivalry, bravery and other noble alities, will think very lightly of you and treat you with contempt.
Spiritual significance
In Sankhya Yoga (Transcendental Knowledge), this verse belongs to the Gita’s teaching on karma yoga. Here the text presents that teaching through these words: The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in low esteem by those who have held you in high regard.
Chapter 2, verse 35 is part of Sankhya Yoga. In the English translation used on this page, it says: The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in low esteem by those who have held you in high regard.
What is the spiritual context of this verse?
It appears in Sankhya Yoga, a chapter associated with Karma Yoga. The immortal self.
