You will be thought to have ceased from battle by fear, thus the great chariot-warriors will think of you. And to those by whom you were highly esteemed, you will fall into contempt

Others’ interpretation: bhayāt uparatam (ceased by fear). They will not see philosophical justification but bhaya (fear). The mahārathaḥ (great chariot-warriors) — a title of honor — will convert respect into contempt.

Bahu-mataḥ (highly esteemed) → lāghavam (lightness, contempt). Yāsyasi (you will go to, fall into) describes loss of kīrti (fame).

The point is psychological: the warrior lives in a system of honor. Losing reputation is losing social identity. Arjuna cannot simply “walk away.”