Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God - Chapter-2.34: Swami Mukundananda.

 

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Friday 05, Apr 2024. 07:50.

Chapter 2: Sankhya Yogam

The Yogam of Analytical Knowledge

Slogam-34.

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Slogam 34:

"Akirtim chapi bhutani kathayishyanti te ’vyayam

sambhavitasya chakirtir maranad atirichyate."

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akirtim—infamy; 

cha—and; 

api—also; 

bhutani—people; 

kathayishyanti—will speak; 

te—of your; 

avyayam—everlasting; 

sambhavitasya—of a respectable person; 

cha—and; 

akirtih—infamy; 

maranat—than death; 

atirichyate—is greater

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Translation:

BG 2.34: 

"People will speak of you as a coward and a deserter. For a respectable person, infamy is worse than death."

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Commentary:

For respectable people, social prestige is very important. The particular gunas (modes of nature) of warriors make respect and honor especially important for them. For them, dishonor is worse than death. Shree Krishna reminds Arjun of this, so that if he is not inspired by superior knowledge, he may at least be inspired by inferior knowledge.

Many societies in the world observe the norm that a warrior who runs away from the battlefield out of cowardice is ostracized from society. That could be the extent of dishonor inflicted upon Arjun if he avoided his duty.

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Continued

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