Bhagavad Gita · Verse 1.40
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (अर्जुनविषादयोगः)
(Arjuna spoke)
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः । धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥४०॥
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ | dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta ||40||
Complete Shloka Translation
When a family is destroyed, its longstanding duties and practices perish. Once those duties are lost, wrongdoing overtakes the whole family.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कुलक्षये | kula-kṣaye | with the destruction of the family |
| प्रणश्यन्ति | praṇaśyanti | are completely wiped out |
| कुलधर्माः | kula-dharmāḥ | the sacred traditions and moral duties of the family |
| सनातनाः | sanātanāḥ | immemorial / eternal |
| धर्मे | dharme | when dharma and duty |
| नष्टे | naṣṭe | is lost / abolished |
| कुलम् | kulam | the entire family |
| कृत्स्नम् | kṛtsnam | all of it without exception |
| अधर्मः | adharmaḥ | lawlessness / adharma |
| अभिभवति | abhibhavati | overwhelms and corrupts |
| उत | uta | truly indeed |
with the destruction of the family
are completely wiped out
the sacred traditions and moral duties of the family
immemorial / eternal
when dharma and duty
is lost / abolished
the entire family
all of it without exception
lawlessness / adharma
overwhelms and corrupts
truly indeed
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
Kula-dharma means the duties and practices associated with the family or lineage in this argument. Arjuna presents their loss as a chain of social consequences, not merely the disappearance of individual relatives.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna fears that war will break the practices that sustain family life across generations."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Which caring practices should be protected when a family faces conflict?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Preserving Institutional Culture and Core Values: Arjuna warns that the fall of family destroys sacred traditions. In company cultures and family systems, abandoning core values during crises leads to systemic collapse across future generations.