अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् । संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥
आणि अकीर्ति जे होईल । ती कल्पांतींही न सरैल । आणि मरणाहूनि थोरैल । दुःख तें गा ॥ ३४ ॥
"And people will speak of your everlasting infamy; and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death."
🔍 Deep Interpretation
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar elaborates on the psychological and social impact of losing one's reputation. For a person of high standing and integrity, public disgrace is a fate worse than physical death. The 'infamy' mentioned here is 'avyayam' (everlasting), meaning it outlasts the physical body. Dnyaneshwar emphasizes that running away from duty out of fear or confusion leads to a permanent stain on one's character that cannot be erased even after many ages.
🎯 Practical Application
Maintaining integrity in professional and personal life is crucial. For example, a leader who compromises their values for short-term gain may face lifelong public distrust, which is harder to bear than the struggle of staying truthful.
📌 Context
Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the social and personal consequences of abandoning his duty as a warrior.