bhayād raṇād uparataḿ
maḿsyante tvāḿ mahā-rathāḥ
yeṣāḿ ca tvaḿ bahu-mato
bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 2.35
The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you insignificant.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Lord Krishna continued to give His verdict to Arjuna: “Do not think that the great generals like Duryodhana, Karna, and other contemporaries will think that you have left the battlefield out of compassion for your brothers and grandfather. They will think that you have left out of fear for your life. And thus their high estimation of your personality will go to hell.”
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
For those who have high regard for you as a warrior, even as an enemy, will no longer give you respect if you give up the battle. The maharathas like Duryodhana will think that you have fled in fear from the battlefield. They will not think of any other reason for the ksatriya to leave the field than fear. Strong bonds of friendship will not be considered.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
2.35 Great warriors like Karna, Duryodhana, etc., hitherto held you in high esteem as a heroic enemy. Now by refraining from battle when it has begun, you will appear to them as despicable and easily defeatable. These great warriors will think of you as withdrawing from battle out of fear. Because turning away from battle does not happen in the case of brave enemies through affection etc., for relatives. It can happen only through fear of enemies. Moreover
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The Supreme Lord Krishna said: Whence meaning from where, coming from what source, caused by what reason has such weakness, such bewilderment overpowered him at this critical moment of crisis. This weakness is not sanctioned by honourable men, it is unrighteous and thus guarantees infamy.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
By using the unexcelled superlative of Bhagavan in referring to Lord Krishna supreme position as the unparalleled possessor of the six opulences being: omniscience, power, strength, splendour, wealth and dispassion. Lord Krishna desiring to benefit the devotees enquires from Arjuna where has this delusion arisen from in this hour of crisis which afflicts those who do not comprehend the value of human existence.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
2.35 Moreover, maharathah, the great chariot-riders, Duryodhana and others; mamsyante, will think; tvam, of you; as uparatam, having desisted; ranat, from the fight; not out of compassion, but bhayat, out of fear of Karna and others; ca, and ; yasyasi laghavam, you will again fall into disgrace before them, before Duryodhana and others; yesam, to whom; tvam, you; bahumato bhutva, had been estimable as endowed with many qualities.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
2.36 See Comment under 2.37
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
bhayad ranad uparatam
mamsyante tvam maha-rathah
yesam ca tvam bahu-mato
bhutva yasyasi laghavam
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
bhayāt — out of fear; raṇāt — from the battlefield; uparatam — ceased; maḿsyante — they will consider; tvām — you; mahā-rathāḥ — the great generals; yeṣām — for whom; ca — also; tvam — you; bahu-mataḥ — in great estimation; bhūtvā — having been; yāsyasi — you will go; lāghavam — decreased in value.
