अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्।
संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते।।2.34।।
2.34 People also will speak of your unending infamy. And to an honoured person infamy is worse than death.
2.34 You will then incur not merely the loss of all happiness and honour but will be the object of disrespect by all people, the alifies and even the unalified, for all time. They will ridicule you saying, When the battle began, Arjuna ran away. It it be asked, What if it be so?, the reply is: To one who is honoured by all for courage, prowess, valour, etc., this kind of dishonour arising from the reverse of these attributes, is worse than death? The meaning is that itself would be better for you than this kind of dishonour. If it is said, How could dishonour accrue to me, who am a hero, but have withdrawn from the battle only out of love and compassion for my relatives? the reply is as follows:
Akeertim chaapi bhootaani kathayishyanti te’vyayaam; Sambhaavitasya chaakeertir maranaad atirichyate.
akīrtim—infamy; cha—and; api—also; bhūtāni—people; kathayiṣhyanti—will speak; te—of your; avyayām—everlasting; sambhāvitasya—of a respectable person; cha—and; akīrtiḥ—infamy; maraṇāt—than death; atirichyate—is greater
