118
Bhagavad-gītā  As It Is
[Ch. 2]
als;  yeşām —of those who;  ca —also;  tvam —you;  bahu-mataḥ —in great estimation;  bhūtvā —will become;  yāsyasi —will go;  lāghavam —decreased in value.
TRANSLATION
The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you a coward.
PURPORT
Lord Krṣṇa continued to give His verdict to Arjuna: “Do not think that the great generals like Duryodhana, Karṇa, and other contemporaries will think that you have left the battlefield out of compassion for your brothers and grandfather. They will think that you have left out of fear for your life. And thus their high estimation of your personality will go to hell.”
TEXT 36
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः । निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्॥ ३६ ॥
avācya-vādāṁś ca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ nindantas tava sāmarthyaṁ tato duḥkhataraṁ nu kim
avācya —unkind;  vādān —fabricated words;  ca —also;  bahūn —many;  vadiṣyanti —will say;  tava —your;  ahitāḥ —enemies;  nindantaḥ —while vilifying;  tava —your;  sāmarthyam —ability;  taṭaḥ —thereafter;  duḥkhataram —more painful;  nu —of course;  kim —what is there.
TRANSLATION
Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you?
PURPORT
Lord Krṣṇa was astonished in the beginning at Arjuna’s uncalled-for plea for compassion, and He described his compassion as befitting the non-