Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 34

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् ।
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥

Transliteration

akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te.avyayām .
sambhāvitasya cākīrtirmaraṇādatiricyate ॥

Meaning

People will speak of your dishonour for ever; and for one who has been held in honour, disgrace is worse than death.

Word meanings

अकीर्तिम् – dishonour, infamy
च अपि – and also
भूतानि – people, beings
कथयिष्यन्ति – will speak of
ते – your
अव्ययाम् – lasting, everlasting
सम्भावितस्य – for one who is honoured
च – and
अकीर्तिः – dishonour
मरणात् – than death
अतिरिच्यते – is worse, exceeds

Anvaya (word order)

भूतानि च अपि ते अव्ययाम् अकीर्तिं कथयिष्यन्ति । सम्भावितस्य च अकीर्तिः मरणात् अतिरिच्यते ।

Explanation

Krishna now argues from the standpoint of public life. Arjuna is not just any individual; he is the most celebrated archer of his age, whose feats are known everywhere. If he withdraws on the eve of battle, people will speak of his ‘cowardice’ for generations — ‘avyayam akirtim’, an infamy that will never fade.

The second line expresses a deep social truth: ‘sambhavitasya chakirtir maranad atirichyate’ — for one who has been honoured, disgrace is worse than death. Death comes once and is over, but dishonour follows a person throughout life and beyond. For someone who has earned respect over a lifetime, losing it is unbearable.

One may ask why Krishna, the teacher of Self-knowledge, speaks of fame and infamy. The answer is that He is reasoning with Arjuna on every level — spiritual, ethical and social. If the highest argument is not grasped, the argument of ordinary life should still be understood. Shankara calls this an appeal to worldly reasoning.

The verse also teaches that our reputation is built by our deeds, and honouring it is a responsibility — especially when many people place their trust in us.

Context

In 2.33 Krishna said that refusing to fight would bring sin and dishonour. Here He stresses how grave dishonour is. In the next verse (2.35) He says the great chariot-warriors will think Arjuna fled out of fear.

Life lesson

Your reputation is built by your actions, and many rely on it. Retreating from your values and duty at a decisive moment can erase years of earned respect.

Key terms

Akirti: dishonour, infamy
Sambhavita: one held in high esteem
Avyaya: lasting, never fading