2.35
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः | येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ||३५||
bhayād raṇād uparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ yeṣhāṁ cha tvaṁ bahu-mato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam
Translation
The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you insignificant.
Interpretation
The great warriors who respect Arjuna will interpret his withdrawal not as principled pacifism but as fear. Arjuna cannot explain his true reasons — they would sound like philosophy, not courage. The warriors of both armies will simply see a great fighter leaving the field, and draw the obvious conclusion.