Bhagavad Gita BG 2.34
Chapter 2, Verse 34 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् । सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥ ३४ ॥
akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te 'vyayām sambhāvitasya cākīrtir maraṇād atiricyate
Meaning
People will speak of your infamy forever; and for one who has been honoured, infamy is worse than death.
Understanding
Krishna now addresses Arjuna's concern for reputation — a powerful motivator for a warrior. People will speak of the infamy (akīrti) as 'avyayā' — endless, imperishable. Ironically, the man who sought to avoid the pain of battle will have 'imperishable' infamy — the opposite of imperishable glory. 'Sambhāvitasya' — for one who has been respected and honoured — infamy is worse than death (maraṇād atiricyate). Arjuna, the greatest archer of his age, would be remembered as a coward.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अकीर्तिम् | akīrtim | infamy / dishonour / disgrace |
| भूतानि | bhūtāni | people / all beings |
| अव्ययाम् | avyayām | imperishable / endless / everlasting |
| सम्भावितस्य | sambhāvitasya | for one who has been honoured / the respected one |
| मरणात् अतिरिच्यते | maraṇāt atiricyate | is worse than death / exceeds death |
| च अपि | cāpi | and also / moreover |
| कथयिष्यन्ति | kathayiṣyanti | will speak of / will tell / will declare |
| ते | te | your / of you |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| अकीर्तिः | akīrtiḥ | infamy / dishonour (subject, 2nd line) |