2.34
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् | सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ||३४||
akīrtiṁ chāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣhyanti te'vyayām sambhāvitasya chākīrtir maraṇād atirichyate
Translation
People will always speak of your infamy, and for a respectable person, dishonor is worse than death.
Interpretation
For a warrior of Arjuna's stature, infamy is more devastating than death. His entire identity and social function is built on the reputation for courage and righteousness. Abandoning battle would destroy that reputation permanently — a form of living death for one whose dharma is martial valor.