Word meanings
- atha cet
- if, however
- tvam
- you
- imam
- this
- dharmyam saṅgrāmam
- righteous war
- na
- not
- kariṣyasi
- act
- tataḥ
- then
- sva-dharmam
- one’s duty in accordance with the Vedas
- kīrtim
- reputation
- ca
- and
- hitvā
- abandoning
- pāpam
- sin
- avāpsyasi
- will incur
Translations
But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and reputation, you will incur sin.
Refuse to fight in this righteous cause, and you will be a traitor, losing fame, incurring only sin.
On the other hand, if you do not fight this righteous battle, then you will incur sin, forsaking your own duty and fame.
अब अगर तू यह धर्ममय युद्ध नहीं करेगा, तो अपने धर्म और कीर्तिका त्याग करके पापको प्राप्त होगा।Commentary
The Lord reminds Arjuna of the fame he had already earned and which he would now lose if he refused to fight. Arjuna had acired great fame by fighting with Lord Siva. Arjuna proceeded on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. He fought with Siva Who appeared in the guise of a mountaineer (Kirata) and got from Him the Pasupatastra, a celestial weapon.