Chapter 2, Verse 34 (Bhagavad Gita 2.34)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्। संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते
Transliteration
akīrtiṁ chāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣhyanti te ’vyayām sambhāvitasya chākīrtir maraṇād atirichyate
Word Meanings
akīrtim—infamy; cha—and; api—also; bhūtāni—people; kathayiṣhyanti—will speak; te—of your; avyayām—everlasting; sambhāvitasya—of a respectable person; cha—and; akīrtiḥ—infamy; maraṇāt—than death; atirichyate—is greater
Translation
And people will always speak of your infamy; and for a person of honor, dishonor is worse than death.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse addresses the human condition where one’s moral standing is intricately linked to their social identity and self-respect. Krishna highlights that for a person of character, the loss of integrity and the resulting public shame creates a psychological burden far heavier than the cessation of the physical body. It teaches that the consequences of retreating from one's duty (Dharma) linger long after the immediate conflict, staining one's legacy and inner peace. By choosing avoidance over responsibility, an individual experiences a form of living death, where the weight of regret and social alienation corrodes the soul. Ultimately, it serves as a call to prioritize eternal principles and righteous action over the transient fear of hardship.