2.35 The great car-warriors will think that thou hast withdrawn from the battle through fear; and thou wilt be lightly held by them who have thought much of thee.

2.35 See Comment under 2.37

**2.35** The great warriors will think you have withdrawn from battle out of fear. And in the eyes of those who have held you in high esteem, you will be diminished. **Commentary:** "The great chariot-warriors will think you have withdrawn from battle out of fear." You think that you have withdrawn from battle solely for your own welfare. But if that were truly the case, and if you considered war to be sinful, then you would have remained in solitude, engaged in devotion and remembrance of God, and you would have had no inclination for war in the first place. However, you did not remain in solitude but instead engaged in the war. Now, if you withdraw from the battle, the great warriors will believe that Arjuna withdrew from the war only out of fear of being killed. If he were considering dharma, he would not withdraw; because fighting is the dharma of a Kshatriya. Therefore, he is withdrawing from battle only out of fear of death. "And you will be reduced in the eyes of those who have held you in high esteem." Bhishma, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Shalya, and other great warriors hold you in high esteem. That is, they have a firm belief that Arjuna is the renowned hero when it comes to waging war. He has defeated many demons, gods, Gandharvas, and others in battle. If you now withdraw from the war, you will be reduced to insignificance—you will fall in their eyes.