In Bhagavad Gita 2.36, Krishna says Arjuna’s enemies will speak many unkind words, scorning his ability, and asks what could be more painful than that.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्
वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं
ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥ २-३६ ॥
avācyavādāṃśca bahūn
vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ
nindantastava sāmarthyaṃ
tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim
English transliteration avaachyavaadaamshcha bahoon
vadishyanti tavaahitaah
nindantastava saamarthyam
tato duhkhataram nu kim ॥ 2.36 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Your enemies will speak many words that should not be spoken, ridiculing your ability. What could be more painful than that?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अवाच्यवादान् avācyavādān | words not to be spoken avācya (unspeakable) + vādān (words) |
| च ca | and |
| बहून् bahūn | many |
| वदिष्यन्ति vadiṣyanti | will speak |
| तव tava | your |
| अहिताः ahitāḥ | enemies |
| निन्दन्तः nindantaḥ | ridiculing |
| तव tava | your |
| सामर्थ्यम् sāmarthyam | ability |
| ततः tataḥ | than that |
| दुःखतरम् duḥkhataram | more painful |
| नु nu | indeed |
| किम् kim | what |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–vāc–ya–vā–dāṃś–ca ba–hūn– 8 syllables a-vaach-ya-vaa-daamsh-cha ba-hoon-
- va–diṣ–yan–ti ta–vā–hi–tāḥ | 8 syllables va-dish-yan-ti ta-vaa-hi-taah
- nin–dan–tas–ta–va sā–mar–thyaṃ 8 syllables nin-dan-tas-ta-va saa-mar-thyam
- ta–to duḥ–kha–ta–raṃ nu kim || 2-36 8 syllables ta-to duh-kha-ta-ram nu kim
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 36
Context
This verse completes Krishna’s appeal to honour (2.34–2.36).
Meaning
Krishna completes the picture of the social consequences of withdrawal. Arjuna’s enemies will mock him, using words that should never be spoken, and will scorn the very strength for which he was famous. For a warrior, nothing would be harder to bear.
The Gita here speaks the language of the warrior culture of its time. The universal lesson is that when we abandon what we are capable of and called to do, we lose not only outward respect but also inner self-respect. The deeper pain is not the mockery of others but the knowledge that we did not rise to the occasion.
In Practice
Recall a time when you did not act on your abilities. Without self-blame, decide how you will respond differently the next time such a moment comes.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.