Chapter 1 – Arjuna’s Despondency
Verse 44
DoshaeH, etaeH, kulaghnaanaam’, varnsankarkaarkaeH,
Utsaadhyante, jaatidharmaH, kuldharmaH, ch, shaashvataH ||43||
English Translation (Literal):
Thus, due to the destruction of family duties and the corruption of women, unwanted practices prevail in society. And when the offerings of food and water (piṇḍa and udaka) to ancestors are stopped, the ancestors (pitṛs) fall, being deprived of these sacred rites.
Simple Explanation:
Arjuna is saying to Lord Krishna:
“When family traditions are destroyed and women of the family become degraded, irreligious customs take root in society. In such families, sacred rituals like śrāddha and tarpaṇa (offerings made for ancestors) cease to exist. As a result, the forefathers are deprived of food and water offerings and suffer in the ancestral realm. Their spiritual peace is disrupted.”
Deep Interpretation:
In Hindu belief, living descendants are responsible for performing rituals like śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and tarpaṇa to ensure the peace and elevation of their departed ancestors. If an entire family or lineage is destroyed—such as during war—then no one remains to carry out these essential duties.
Through this shloka, Arjuna attempts to justify his unwillingness to fight by presenting a moral and religious argument. He emphasizes that war doesn’t just harm the present generation but also affects both the ancestors and future descendants, disrupting the cycle of dharma and sacred obligations across time.
