Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 -Samkhya Yoga - Sloka 36

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of  The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

Swerve not from your Duty - 31-37

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 2 - Samkhya Yoga - Sloka 36

Avachya vadan cha bahun vadishyanti tava ahitah I

Nindantah tava samartyam tatah dukhataram nukim II sloka 36

अवाच्य वदन च बहुन वदिष्यन्ति तव आहितः ।

निन्दन्तः तव समर्त्यं ततः दुखतरं नुकिं ।। श्लोक ३६ 

Your enemies will also slander your strength and speak many unseemly words. What could be more painful than that?

When a man is well off in life,all his doings will be extolled as exemplary; but if there be a setback in his life, those very doings of his will suddenly become exposed to uncharitable criticism and slander. People who have been all along admiring Arjuna for his deeds of valour will not hesitate to belittle him and his deeds. The reputation that he has so far gained is well grounded, indeed. But irreparrable will be the ignominy that is bound to come if he failed in doing his duty. The very thought of Arjuna used to create a shudder in the hearts of his enemies. But if he happens to beat a retreat now, those trembling enemies will surely come to themselves again. More than that, their fear for Arjuna will immediately turn into ridicule of him. Their indulgence in insolent jokes would become unbearable. There is no alternative therefore to waging the war that has been declared. 

The grief stricken Arjuna contends that war is besset with plenty of evils. What the Lord has to say in the matter comes in the next sloka.