Chapter 1 – Arjuna’s Despondency
Verse 40
Kulakshye, pranashyanti, kuldharmaH, sanatanaH,
Dharme, nashte, kulam’, krtsnnam’, adharmH, abhibhavti, ut ||40||
When a family or lineage (kula) is destroyed, the eternal (sanatan) traditions and religious duties of that family are also lost.
And when dharma (righteousness) is lost, adharma (unrighteousness, immorality) overwhelms the entire family.
Simple Explanation / Elaboration:
In this verse, Arjuna is saying:
“O Krishna! If I kill my own relatives and loved ones in this war, their families and lineages will be destroyed.
And when a family is destroyed, its long-standing religious and moral traditions — such as rituals, sacred duties, and ethical conduct — will also disappear.
Without dharma, adharma (evil deeds, immorality, and social decay) will dominate.”
This reflects Arjuna’s deep concern for duty and righteousness in the broader social and spiritual context.
Philosophical Insight:
- In this shloka, Arjuna highlights the social function of dharma — it is not merely personal, but also the guiding principle for the well-being of the entire community or lineage.
- “Kula-dharma” refers to the culture and value system that keeps a family morally grounded.
- According to Arjuna, the destruction of families through war will inevitably lead to spiritual, social, and moral decline.
