In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna continues to dismantle Arjuna’s justifications for inaction, focusing on the devastating social consequences. He moves from the general disgrace described in the previous verse to a more specific and painful prediction. In the Bhayad Ranad Uparatam verse, Krishna specifies exactly *how* Arjuna’s peers will interpret his retreat, showing him that his noble intentions will be completely misunderstood.
Sanskrit Verse
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥ ३५ ॥Transliteration
bhayād raṇād uparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ
yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahu-mato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavamWord for Word Translation
bhayāt — out of fear; raṇāt — from the battlefield; uparatam — withdrawn; maṁsyante — they will consider; tvām — you; mahā-rathāḥ — the great generals; yeṣām — for whom; ca — also; tvam — you; bahu-mataḥ — in high esteem; bhūtvā — having been; yāsyasi — you will go; lāghavam — to insignificance.
English Translation
The great generals who hold you in high esteem will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus, from being highly respected, you will become insignificant.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is a precise and cutting psychological blow, designed to show Arjuna the reality of how his actions will be perceived by the people whose opinions he values most.
- Maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ: “The great generals will think of you…” Krishna specifies that it is the `mahā-rathāḥ`—the great chariot fighters like Drona, Bhishma, and Karna—who will be his judges. These are his teachers, his elders, and his greatest rivals. Theirs is the highest military court of opinion.
- Bhayād raṇād uparatam: “That you withdrew from the battle out of fear.” This is the critical point. Krishna tells Arjuna that these battle-hardened veterans will not assume he fled because of a complex ethical dilemma or out of compassion. They will jump to the most straightforward conclusion for a warrior: he fled out of `bhayāt`, or simple fear. His noble motives will be completely invisible to them.
- Yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahu-mataḥ: “For whom you were held in high esteem.” Krishna twists the knife by reminding Arjuna of his current status (`bahu-mataḥ`). These are the very men who respect his power and skill. The fall from grace will be all the more painful because he is starting from such a great height. This highlights the fragility of social status.
- Yāsyasi lāghavam: “You will become insignificant.” The final outcome is `lāghavam`, to be seen as light, trivial, or insignificant. From being a celebrated and feared opponent, Arjuna will become an object of scorn, a footnote dismissed as a coward. For a proud warrior, this is a fate worse than death.
Conclusion
Krishna’s lesson here is profound. He is teaching Arjuna that he cannot control the narrative. He may feel his reasons for retreating are noble, but the world, and especially his peers, will interpret his actions through their own simpler, harsher lens. By abandoning his Dharma, he will not be seen as a saint, but as a coward. This verse forces Arjuna to weigh the purity of his intentions against the inevitable and devastating judgment of the world he inhabits.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 36 – Avacya-vadams Ca Bahun
