2.35 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2, Verse 35

Verse 2.35 of the Bhagavad Gita presents Krishna's continuation of his reasoning to convince Arjuna to fulfill his duty as a warrior. In this verse, Krishna addresses how Arjuna's reputation would be severely damaged if he were to retreat from the battlefield. The great generals and warriors who previously held Arjuna in high esteem would believe he fled out of cowardice rather than compassion.

Krishna explains the painful consequences of abandoning one's duty by highlighting the gap between intention and perception. While Arjuna's intention might be compassionate—wanting to spare the lives of his relatives—others would perceive his actions as stemming from fear. This misconception would be particularly mortifying for someone of Arjuna's stature. The Sanskrit words "bhayād raṇād uparatam" specifically indicate that others would believe Arjuna withdrew from battle out of fear, and "yāsyasi lāghavam" suggests he would become diminished in their estimation.

The verse touches on a profound psychological insight: for a respected warrior like Arjuna, dishonor and contempt from peers would be more painful than physical wounds from battle. Krishna is reminding Arjuna that living with a tarnished reputation would be a form of daily suffering—a living death for someone accustomed to honor and respect. The great generals (mahā-rathāḥ) who once admired him would now mock him, questioning not only this decision but potentially all his previous acts of valor.

Krishna's argument carries special weight because he understands the social context of warrior culture. No kshatriya (warrior) in history had abandoned battle for the reasons Arjuna proposed, so his explanation would sound implausible to his contemporaries. The irony Krishna points out is that the very people Arjuna wishes to save by not fighting would be the ones spreading false accusations about his character. This creates a powerful dilemma for Arjuna: is sparing his relatives worth the cost of being permanently dishonored by them?

This verse also reveals how our social standing and others' opinions can significantly influence our decisions and self-worth. Krishna isn't suggesting that Arjuna should fight merely to preserve his reputation, but rather that Arjuna should recognize how abandoning his duty would bring consequences beyond what he initially considered. The verse shows how our actions are judged not by our intentions but by how others perceive those actions.

At a deeper level, the verse illustrates the complex relationship between duty (dharma) and social perception. Even when we believe we're acting virtuously, if our actions contradict established social and moral codes, we may face painful misunderstanding. Krishna is helping Arjuna see that when contemplating difficult moral choices, we must consider not only our intentions and immediate consequences but also how our actions will be interpreted within our social context.

Ultimately, this verse serves as a bridge in Krishna's broader argument about duty, action, and consequence. He is preparing Arjuna to understand that performing one's prescribed duty, even when difficult, is preferable to abandoning it based on emotional attachments or fear of outcomes. Through this reasoning, Krishna gradually guides Arjuna toward the deeper spiritual wisdom that will unfold in subsequent verses.