Bhagavad Gita · Verse 1.42
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (अर्जुनविषादयोगः)
(Arjuna spoke)
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च । पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥४२॥
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca | patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ||42||
Complete Shloka Translation
Such confusion leads both the family-destroyers and their families to hell; their ancestors fall too, because the offerings of food and water cease.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सङ्करः | saṅkaraḥ | such ethical chaos and confusion |
| नरकाय | narakāya | leads directly to hellish degradation |
| एव | eva | inevitably indeed |
| कुलघ्नानाम् | kulaghnānām | for the destroyers of the family |
| कुलस्य | kulasya | and for the family itself |
| च | ca | and |
| पतन्ति | patanti | fall from peace |
| पितरः | pitaraḥ | the ancestral forefathers |
| हि | hi | certainly |
| एषाम् | eṣām | of them |
| लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः | lupta-piṇḍa-udaka-kriyāḥ | deprived of memorial offerings of food and water |
such ethical chaos and confusion
leads directly to hellish degradation
inevitably indeed
for the destroyers of the family
and for the family itself
and
fall from peace
the ancestral forefathers
certainly
of them
deprived of memorial offerings of food and water
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
Pinda and water refer to ancestral offerings within the ritual framework Arjuna invokes. His account of hell and the ancestors' fall is a religious claim in his speech, not an independently demonstrated consequence or a judgment on present-day families.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna fears consequences for living families and for the ancestors they honour."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
How do I honour those who came before me while respecting other people's practices?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Systemic Chaos from Broken Lineages: Confusion of values harms both ancestors and descendants. Disconnectedness from ancestral wisdom leaves future generations spiritually and psychologically rudderless.