Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga - The Yoga of Arjuna's DespondencyArjuna
Verse 40
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 1, श्लोक 40
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥४०॥
Transliteration
Kula-Kshaye Pranashyanti Kula-Dharmah Sanatanah.
Dharme Nashte Kulam Kritsnam-Adharmo'bhibhavaty-Uta.||40||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
कुलक्षयेkula-kshayein the destruction of the family
प्रणश्यन्तिpranashyantiare destroyed
कुलधर्माःkula-dharmahfamily traditions/dharma
सनातनाःsanatanaheternal/ancient
धर्मेdharmewhen dharma
नष्टेnashteis destroyed
कुलम्kulamthe family
कृत्स्नम्kritsnamentire
अधर्मःadharmahirreligion
अभिभवतिabhibhavatiovercomes
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
कुल के नाश होने पर सनातन कुलधर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं। धर्म के नष्ट होने पर सम्पूर्ण कुल को अधर्म दबा लेता है।
English Translation
When the family is destroyed, the ancient family traditions perish. When dharma is lost, adharma (irreligion) overwhelms the entire family.
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna articulates a legitimate social concern — the destruction of elders leads to the loss of cultural and spiritual traditions passed down through generations. Without these guardians of tradition, moral decay follows. This sociological argument shows the depth of Arjuna's thinking beyond personal grief.