Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-2
Sankhya and Yoga
33. If, however, you will not carry on this lawful war, then failing in your duty and honour, you will incur sin. If you withdraw now from this war and grieve for nothing, you will cause harm to yourself. If you throw down you weapons in this war, you will defile the fame of your forefathers, lose your present repute and incur the censure of the world. Then all human foibles will seek you out and possess you. Even as a woman deserted by her husband becomes the object of scorn all along, such will be your state if you abandon your duty. Or just as vultures gnaw at a corpse on the battlefield from all sides, so if you fail in your duty, all human frailties will encircle you (196-200). 34. Besides men will recount endlessly your infamy and to one held in high esteem, dishonour is worse than death. Therefore, if you neglect your duty, you will incur sin; and this disgrace will not be effaced even at the end of the world cycle. A wise man should live only so long as he does not suffer infamy. Besides tell me how you propose to get away from here. Even if you were to leave this place out of kindness and without malice, this action of yours will not carry conviction to the Kauravas. They will surround you from all sides and when they shower arrows upon you, your kindness will not save you. Even if you manage to get away unscathed, your afterlife will be worse than death (201-205). |
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