Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 35 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः | येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ||२-३५||
Transliteration
bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyante tvāṃ mahārathāḥ . yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ||2-35||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
2.35 The great car-warriors will think that thou hast withdrawn from the battle through fear; and thou wilt be lightly held by them who have thought much of thee.
।।2.35।। और जिनके लिए तुम बहुत माननीय हो उनके लिए अब तुम तुच्छता को प्राप्त होओगे, वे महारथी लोग तुम्हें भय के कारण युद्ध से निवृत्त हुआ मानेंगे।।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
In professional life, abandoning a difficult project or a leadership role due to perceived challenges can damage your reputation for commitment and courage. Colleagues and superiors who once held you in high regard might begin to see you as unreliable or fearful. It's vital to uphold professional integrity and face responsibilities, even when daunting, to maintain your standing and influence.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
The fear of negative judgment and loss of respect can be a significant source of stress and mental anguish. This verse implicitly encourages facing one's fears and fulfilling obligations, rather than succumbing to the anxiety of how others might perceive withdrawal. Often, the stress of *inaction* and the regret of not fulfilling one's duty can be more damaging than facing the challenge itself.
❤️ In Relationships
In personal relationships, consistently avoiding difficult conversations, responsibilities, or commitments can lead to an erosion of trust and respect from friends, family, or partners who once highly valued you. Perceived unreliability or cowardice in crucial moments can diminish your standing in their eyes, impacting the depth and longevity of these connections. Maintaining integrity and reliability is crucial for sustained healthy relationships.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Your integrity and actions in fulfilling your duties define your reputation; shying away from challenges will inevitably diminish you in the eyes of those who once respected you.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
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 उपरतम् withdrawn?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.
Shri Purohit Swami
2.35 Great generals will think that thou hast fled from the battlefield through cowardice; though once honoured thou wilt seem despicable.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
2.35. The mighty charioteers will think of you as having withdrawn from the battle out of fear : having been highly regarded by these men, you shall be viewed lightly.
Swami Adidevananda
2.35 The great warriors will think that you have fled from battle in fear. These men who held you in high esteem will speak lightly of you now.
Swami Gambirananda
2.35 The great chariot-riders will think of you as having desisted from the fight out of fear; and you will into disgrace before them to whom you had been estimable.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।2.35।। भावी इतिहास में तो तुम्हारी अपकीर्ति बनी रहेगी ही परन्तु वर्तमान में भी शत्रु पक्ष के ये महारथी तुम्हारा उपहास करेंगे। इस भ्रातृहन्ता युद्ध से तुम्हें जो दुख है उसे न समझकर वे तो यही मानेंगे कि तुमने भय और कायरता के कारण युद्ध से पलायन किया है। इस प्रकार का अनादरपूर्ण कायरता का आरोप कोई भी वीर पुरुष सहन नहीं कर सकता विशेषरूप से जब अपने ही तुल्य बल के शत्रुओं द्वारा वह किया गया हो। और
Swami Ramsukhdas
2.35।। व्याख्या-- 'भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः'-- तू ऐसा समझता है कि मैं तो केवल अपना कल्याण करनेके लिये युद्धसे उपरत हुआ हूँ; परन्तु अगर ऐसी ही बात होती और युद्धको तू पाप समझता, तो पहले ही एकान्तमें रहकर भजन-स्मरण करता और तेरी युद्धके लिये प्रवृत्ति भी नहीं होती। परन्तु तू एकान्तमें न रहकर युद्धमें प्रवृत्त हुआ है। अब अगर तू युद्धसे निवृत्त होगा तो बड़े-बड़े महारथीलोग ऐसा ही मानेंगे कि युद्धमें मारे जानेके भयसे ही अर्जुन युद्धसे निवृत्त हुआ है। अगर वह धर्मका विचार करता तो युद्धसे निवृत्त नहीं होता; क्योंकि युद्ध करना क्षत्रियका धर्म है। अतः वह मरनेके भयसे ही युद्धसे निवृत्त हो रहा है। 'येषाँ च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्'-- भीष्म, द्रोणाचार्य, कृपाचार्य, शल्य आदि जो बड़े-बड़े महारथी है, उनकी दृष्टिमें तू बहुमान्य हो चुका है अर्थात् उनके मनमें यह एक विश्वास है कि युद्ध करनेमें नामी शूरवीर तो अर्जुन ही है। वह युद्धमें अनेक दैत्यों, देवताओं, गन्धर्वों आदिको हरा चुका है। अगर अब तू युद्धसे निवृत्त हो जायगा, तो उन महारथियोंके सामने तू लधुता-(तुच्छता-) को प्राप्त हो जायगा अर्थात् उनकी दृष्टिमें तू गिर जायगा।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।2.35।। और जिनके लिए तुम बहुत माननीय हो उनके लिए अब तुम तुच्छता को प्राप्त होओगे, वे महारथी लोग तुम्हें भय के कारण युद्ध से निवृत्त हुआ मानेंगे।।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।2.35।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Sri Anandgiri
।।2.35।।इतश्च त्वचा युद्धं कर्तव्यमित्याह किञ्चेति। प्राणिषु कृपया नाहं युद्धं करिष्यामीत्याशङ्क्याह भयादिति। महारथानेव विशिनष्टि येषां चेति। दुर्योधनादिभिस्तवोपहास्यतानिरसनाय संग्रामे प्रवृत्तिरवश्यंभाविनीत्यर्थः।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।2.35।।यद्यपि त्वं स्वबन्धुहिंसादोषभिया न युद्धमङ्गीकरोषि तथाप्येते तु नैवं जानन्तीत्याह भयात् रणादुपरतमिति। महारथा एते एवमजानन्तस्त्वां मरणभयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यते एवं च लाघवं प्राप्स्यसि।
Sridhara Swami
।।2.35।।किंच भयादिति। येषां बहुगुणत्वेन त्वं पूर्वं संमतोऽभूस्त एव भयेन संग्रामात्त्वां निवृत्तं मन्येरन् ततश्च पूर्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा लाघवं यास्यसि।