Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga - The Yoga of Arjuna's DespondencyArjuna
Verse 42
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 1, श्लोक 42
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥४२॥
Transliteration
Sankaro Narakayaiva Kula-Ghnanam Kulasya Cha.
Patanti Pitaro Hy-Esham Lupta-Pindodaka-Kriyah.||42||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सङ्करःsankarahsocial disorder
नरकायnarakayafor hell
एवevacertainly
कुलघ्नानाम्kula-ghnanamof the destroyers of the family
कुलस्यkulasyaof the family
पतन्तिpatantifall down
पितरःpitarahancestors/forefathers
एषाम्eshamtheir
लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाःlupta-pindodaka-kriyahdeprived of offerings of food and water
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
यह वर्णसंकर कुल-घातियों और कुल दोनों को नरक में ले जाता है। इनके पितर भी पिण्ड और जल की क्रिया बन्द होने से गिर जाते हैं।
English Translation
Such social disorder leads to hell for both the destroyers of the family and the family itself. The ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of food and water.
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna invokes the ancient Vedic belief in ancestral rites (shraddha). When families are destroyed, the ritual offerings to ancestors cease, causing their spiritual downfall. This concern for both the living and the departed shows the comprehensive nature of Arjuna's moral anguish.