Bhagavad Gita 2.33

[Paramananda das]

Text 33

atha cet tvam imam dharmyam sangramam na karishyasi tatah sva-dharmam kirtim ca hitva papam avapsyasi

Translation

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.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada

Arjuna was a famous fighter, and he attained fame by fighting many great demigods, including even Lord Shiva. After fighting and defeating Lord Shiva in the dress of a hunter, Arjuna pleased the lord and received as a reward a weapon called pasupata-astra. Everyone knew that he was a great warrior. Even Dronacarya 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 kshatriya, 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.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

In four verses he describes the fault in doing the opposite.

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary This verse illustrates the disadvantage of Arjuna acting contrary to his duty as a ksatriya.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya There is no commentary for this verse.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary If through injudicious sentiment or bewildered ignorance Arjuna should fail to perform his prescribed duty as a ksatriyaby fighting for the sake of righteousness; he would lose a most excellent opportunity of attaining the heavenly spheres, he would lose his reputation as a hero and he would have to accept great sinful reaction.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary Now Lord Krishna responds to Arjunas previous distress of not wanting to slay his enemies such as Bhishma and Drona but instead to allow his enemies to slay him. The use of the word atha is to emphasise another point of view that if Arjuna declines to fight this righteous war and chooses to disregard the acquisition of happiness in either this world or the heavenly worlds as enjoined in the Vedic scriptures which state that the royal orders should conquer over his enemies and rule over the earth. Then by refusing to accept his responsibility and avoiding the battle Arjuna would be abandoning his duty which brings rewards and boundless glory and thus losing his reputation both worldly and divine which results from the victory of a great warrior Arjuna would in fact incur great sin.

 

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