2.36. Your enemies will speak many unspeakable words, disparaging your capability. What could be more painful than that?
Commentary: "Unspeakable words..." The term 'ahita' refers to an enemy, one who wishes harm. Your enemies like Duryodhana, Dushasana, and Karna, though you bear no enmity towards them, themselves harbor hostility and seek your harm. They know your capability—that you are a mighty warrior. Yet, knowing this, they will slander your prowess, saying, "He is but a eunuch. Look! He has withdrawn at the very moment of battle! Can he stand before us? Can he even fight us?" In this manner, to grieve you and to ignite agitation within you, they will utter countless unspeakable words. How will you endure their speech? "What could be more painful than that?"—What greater, most terrible sorrow could there be? For it is observed that when a man is scorned by contemptible people, he cannot bear the insult and, driven by his own competence and valor, exerts himself to the utmost and perishes. Similarly, when you are utterly and unjustly scorned by your enemies, you will not be able to bear it and, inflamed with passion, will leap into battle. You have refrained from fighting until now, but when you impulsively leap into battle at that moment, how will you endure the immense censure that will follow?
Connection: Having explained the loss from not fighting in the preceding four verses, the Lord now, in the next two verses, explains the gain from fighting.
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