avācyavādāṃśca bahūnvadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ
nindantastava sāmarthyaṃ tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim

And many unspeakable words will your enemies speak disparaging your powers. What can be more painful than this?

avācya = unkind; vādān = fabricated words; ca = also; bahūn = many; vadiṣyanti = will say; tava = your; ahitāḥ = enemies; nindantaḥ = while vilifying; tava = your; sāmarthyaṃ = ability; tataḥ = than that; duḥkhataraṃ = more painful; nu = of course; kiṃ = what is there.;

bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyante tvāṃ mahārathāḥ
yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam

The great battalion commanders will think that you have withdrawn from the battle through fear; and you will be looked down upon by them who had thought much of you and your heroism in the past.

bhayāt = out of fear; raṇāt = from the battlefield; uparataṃ = ceased; maṃsyante = they will consider; tvāṃ = you; mahārathāḥ = the great generals; yeṣāṃ = for whom; ca = also; tvaṃ = you; bahumataḥ = in great estimation; bhūtvā = having been; yāsyasi = you will go; lāghavaṃ = decreased in value.;

akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te’vyayām
sambhāvitasya cākīrtirmaraṇādatiricyate

People too, will recount your everlasting dishonour; and to one who has been honoured, dishonour is more than death.

akīrtiṃ = infamy; ca = also; api = over and above; bhūtāni = all people; kathayiṣyanti = will speak; te = of you; avyayaṃ = forever; sambhāvitasya = for a respectable man; ca = also; akīrtiḥ = ill fame; maraṇāt = than death; atiricyate = becomes more.;

atha cettvamimaṃ dharmyaṃ saṅgrāmaṃ na kariṣyasi
tataḥ svadharmaṃ kīrtiṃ ca hitvā pāpamavāpsyasi

But, if you will not fight this righteous war, then, having abandoned your own duty and fame, you shall incur sin.

atha = therefore; cet = if; tvaṃ = you; imaṃ = this; dharmyaṃ = as a religious duty; saṃgrāmaṃ = fighting; na = do not; kariṣyasi = perform; tataḥ = then; svadharmaṃ = your religious duty; kīrtiṃ = reputation; ca = also; hitvā = losing; pāpaṃ = sinful reaction; avāpsyasi = will gain.;

yadṛcchayā copapannaṃ svargadvāramapāvṛtam
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddhamīdṛśam

Happy indeed are the KSHATRIYAS, O Partha, who are called to fight in such a battle, that comes of itself as an open-door to heaven.

yadṛcchayā = by its own accord; ca = also; upapannaṃ = arrived at; svarga = of the heavenly planets; dvāraṃ = door; apāvṛtaṃ = wide open; sukhinaḥ = very happy; kṣatriyāḥ = the members of the royal order; pārtha = O son of Pritha; labhante = do achieve; yuddhaṃ = war; īdṛṣaṃ = like this.;

svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi
dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo’nyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate

Further, looking at thine own duty thou oughtest not to waver, for there is nothing higher for a KSHATRIYA than a righteous war.

svadharmaṃ = one’s own religious principles; api = also; ca = indeed; avekṣya = considering; na = never; vikampituṃ = to hesitate; arhasi = you deserve; dharmyāt = for religious principles; hi = indeed; yuddhāt = than fighting; śreyaḥ = better engagement; anyat = any other; kṣatriyasya = of the ksatriya; na = does not; vidyate = exist.;

dehī nityamavadhyo’yaṃ dehe sarvasya bhārata
tasmātsarvāṇi bhūtāni na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi

This, the Indweller in the body of everyone is ever indestructible, O Bharata; and, therefore, you should not grieve for any creature.

dehī = the owner of the material body; nityaṃ = eternally; avadhyaḥ = cannot be killed; ayaṃ = this soul; dehe = in the body; sarvasya = of everyone; bhārata = O descendant of Bharata; tasmāt = therefore; sarvāṇi = all; bhūtāni = living entities (that are born); na = never; tvaṃ = you; śocituṃ = to lament; arhasi = deserve.;

āścaryavatpaśyati kaścidena-
māścaryavadvadati tathaiva cānyaḥ
āścaryavaccainamanyaḥ śṛṇoti
śrutvāpyenaṃ veda na caiva kaścit

One sees This as a wonder; another speaks of This as a wonder; another hears of This as a wonder; yet, having heard none understands This at all!

āścaryavat = as amazing; paśyati = sees; kaścit = someone; enaṃ = this soul; āścaryavat = as amazing; vadati = speaks of; tathā = thus; eva = certainly; ca = also; anyaḥ = another; āścaryavat = similarly amazing; ca = also; enaṃ = this soul; anyaḥ = another; śṛṇoti = hears of; śrutvā = having heard; api = even; enaṃ = this soul; veda = knows; na = never; ca = and; eva = certainly; kaścit = someone.;

avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyaktamadhyāni bhārata
avyaktanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā

Beings unmanifest in the beginning, and unmanifest again in their end seem to be manifest in the middle, O Bharata. What then is there to grieve about?

avyaktādīni = in the beginning unmanifested; bhūtānī = all that are created; vyakta = manifested; madhyāni = in the middle; bhārata = O descendant of Bharata; avyakta = nonmanifested; nidhanāni = when vanquished; eva = it is all like that; tatra = therefore; kā = what; paridevanā = lamentation.;

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmādaparihārye’rthe na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi

Indeed, certain is death for the born, and certain is birth for the dead; therefore, over the inevitable, you should not grieve.

jātasya = of one who has taken his birth; hi = certainly; dhruvaḥ = a fact; mṛtyuḥ = death; dhruvaṃ = it is also a fact; janma = birth; mṛtasya = of the dead; ca = also; tasmāt = therefore; aparihārye = of that which is unavoidable; arthe = in the matter; na = do not; tvaṃ = you; śocituṃ = to lament; arhasi = deserve.;