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भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः। येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्।।2.35।।

bhayād raṇād uparataṁ mansyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ yeṣhāṁ cha tvaṁ bahu-mato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 2, Verse 35
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in low esteem by those who have held you in high regard.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: Krishna predicting the great warriors will assume Arjuna fled from fear is a pointed use of social pressure aimed at someone who has spent his life being watched by exactly those people.

In life: we're often more moved by what specific people will think than by abstract principle.

Teaching: be honest about whose opinion actually motivates you, and use that honestly instead of pretending you're above caring what anyone thinks.

bhayātout of fear
raṇātfrom the battlefield
uparatamhave fled
maṁsyantewill think
tvāmyou
mahā-rathāḥwarriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors
yeṣhāmfor whom
chaand
tvamyou
bahu-mataḥhigh esteemed
bhūtvāhaving been
yāsyasiyou will loose
lāghavamdecreased in value

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
2.35 भयात् from fear? रणात् from the battle? उपरतम् withdrawn? मंस्यन्ते will think? त्वाम् thee? महारथाः the great carwarriors? येषाम् of whom? च and? त्वम् thou? बहुमतः much thought of? भूत्वा having been? यास्यसि will receive? लाघवम् lightness.Commentary 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.