Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2: The Path of Understanding
Bhagavad Gita 2.36
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून् वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः ।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥
avācyavādāṃśca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ | nindantastava sāmarthyaṃ tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim ||
Your enemies will say many things that should never be said, mocking your ability. What could be more painful than that?
Modern context
This is the last of the arguments from honour. Krishna has now tried philosophy, duty and reputation, one after another, as a teacher tries different doors to reach a student. In the next two verses he drops reputation altogether and gives the instruction that goes deepest: act with an even mind.