Bhagavad Gita · 2.36 · Transcendental Knowledge·36 of 72
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून् वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः।निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥
avāchya-vādānśh cha bahūn vadiṣhyanti tavāhitāḥ
nindantastava sāmarthyaṁ tato duḥkhataraṁ nu kim
Sanskrit recitation
Duty when you are afraid · 2.31–2.38 · Teaching
Translation
Your enemies, scoffing at your power, will speak many abusive words—what could be more painful than this?
Meaning
There is really no pain more unbearable and tormenting that that of slander thus incurred.
After Swami Sivananda
Duty when you are afraid· 2.31–2.38→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 2.31Further, having regard to your duty, you should not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.
- 2.32Happy are the Kshatriyas, O Arjuna! who are called to fight in such a battle that comes of its own accord as an open door to heaven.
- 2.33But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and reputation, you will incur sin.
- 2.34People will also recount your everlasting dishonor; and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death.
- 2.35The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in low esteem by those who have held you in high regard.
2.36Your enemies, scoffing at your power, will speak many abusive words—what could be more painful than this?
- 2.37Slain, you will obtain heaven; victorious, you will enjoy the earth; therefore, stand up, O son of Kunti, resolved to fight.
- 2.38Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat equal, engage in battle for the sake of battle; thus, you shall not incur sin.
Word-by-word→
- nu
- indeed
- cha
- and
- kim
- what
- tava
- your
- bahūn
- many
- tataḥ
- than that
- ahitāḥ
- enemies
- nindantaḥ
- defame
- sāmarthyam
- might
- vadiṣhyanti
- will say
- duḥkha-taram
- more painful
- avāchya-vādān
- using harsh words
Related verses
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- 2.6I can hardly tell which would be better, that we should conquer them or that they should…
- 2.11The Blessed Lord said, "You have grieved for those who should not be grieved for; yet, you…
- 2.12Nor, at any time, was I not, nor thou, nor these rulers of men; nor, verily, shall we ever…