अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् | सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ||२-३४||
akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te.avyayām . sambhāvitasya cākīrtirmaraṇādatiricyate ||2-34||
Chapter 2 · Verse 34
Sankhya Yoga
सांख्ययोग
In plain words
You must value your honor and fulfill your duty to avoid lifelong disgrace. When you walk away from your responsibilities, society will speak of your failure forever. For someone respected, living with dishonor is far worse than death. Embrace your dharma, your righteous duty, and stand strong, because losing your integrity hurts more than losing your physical life.
Translation
2.34 Further, people will speak ill of you for all time, and for one accustomed to be honoured, dishonour is worse than death.
Meaning
The world also will ever recount thy infamy which will survive thee for a long time. Death is really preferable to disgrace to one who has been honoured as a great hero and mighty warrior with noble alities.
Word by word
अकीर्तिम् dishonour च and अपि also भूतानि beings कथयिष्यन्ति will tell ते thy अव्ययाम् everlasting संभावितस्य of the honoured च and अकीर्तिः dishonour मरणात् than death अतिरिच्यते exceeds.