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Bhagavad-gītā 2.33
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 33
- अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि ।
- ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥३३॥
- atha cet tvam imaṁ dharmyaṁ
- saṅgrāmaṁ na kariṣyasi
- tataḥ sva-dharmaṁ kīrtiṁ ca
- hitvā pāpam avāpsyasi
athatherefore — therefore; cetif — if; tvamyou — you; imamthis — this; dharmyamas a religious duty — as a religious duty; saṅgrāmamfighting — fighting; nado not — do not; kariṣyasiperform — perform; tataḥthen — then; svayour religious duty-dharmamyour religious duty — your religious duty; kīrtimreputation — reputation; caalso — also; hitvālosing — losing; pāpamsinful reaction — sinful reaction; avāpsyasiwill gain — will gain.
If, however, you do not perform your religious duty of fighting, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter.
Arjuna was a famous fighter, and he attained fame by fighting many great demigods, including even Lord Śiva. After fighting and defeating Lord Śiva in the dress of a hunter, Arjuna pleased the lord and received as a reward a weapon called pāśupata-astra. Everyone knew that he was a great warrior. Even Droṇācārya gave him benedictions and awarded him the special weapon by which he could kill even his teacher. So he was credited with so many military certificates from many authorities, including his adopted father Indra, the heavenly king. But if he abandoned the battle, not only would he neglect his specific duty as a kṣatriya, but he would lose all his fame and good name and thus prepare his royal road to hell. In other words, he would go to hell not by fighting but by withdrawing from battle.