Shloka 35
कर्मयोग–ज्ञानयज्ञ–अवतारोपदेश
Karma-Yoga, Jñāna-Yajña, and Avatāra Instruction
भयाद् रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथा: । येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्
bhayād raṇād uparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahārathāḥ | yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ||
桑贾亚说：“诸位大车战士将以为你因恐惧而退出战阵；而那些曾极为敬重你的人，如今将见你沦为不足轻重之辈——你的荣誉被削损。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of reputation and perceived courage in a warrior’s dharma: withdrawing from a righteous battle is not only a personal lapse but is judged socially as fear, leading to loss of honor and moral standing.
Sañjaya reports the warning that if Arjuna retreats from the battlefield, the assembled elite warriors will interpret it as fear-driven withdrawal, and those who once respected him will now regard him as diminished and contemptible.