Bhagavad Gita 1.40 — Kula-kshaye Pranashyanti — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.४० — कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
कुलक्षये
kula-kṣhaye
in the destruction of a family or dynasty
प्रणश्यन्ति
praṇaśhyanti
perish; are destroyed
कुलधर्माः
kula-dharmāḥ
the traditions and duties of the family
सनातनाः
sanātanāḥ
eternal; age-old
धर्मे नष्टे
dharme naṣhṭe
when dharma is destroyed
कुलम्
kulam
the family
कृत्स्नम्
kṛitsnam
the whole; entire
अधर्मः
adharmaḥ
unrighteousness; irreligion
अभिभवति
abhibhavati
overcomes; overwhelms
उत
uta
indeed; verily
Complete Translation
When a family is destroyed, its eternal traditions and duties (kula-dharma) perish; and when dharma is destroyed, unrighteousness indeed overwhelms the entire family.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 40
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
In the first chapter, Arjuna Vishada Yoga, Arjuna marshals a series of arguments against the war. Here he laments that the destruction of the family will cause its eternal dharma to perish, and that the loss of dharma invites unrighteousness upon the whole lineage — reasoning that flows from his grief and sets the stage for Krishna's higher teaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arjuna saying in Bhagavad Gita 1.40?▼
Arjuna argues that the destruction of a family in war leads to the loss of its eternal traditions and dharma, and that when dharma is lost, unrighteousness overwhelms the entire family. It is part of his case against fighting the war.
What is 'kula-dharma'?▼
'Kula-dharma' means the duties, customs and righteous traditions of a family or lineage, passed down through generations. Arjuna fears that the deaths of the family's elders and warriors will cause these eternal traditions to be lost.
Does Krishna accept Arjuna's argument?▼
While Arjuna's concern for dharma is sincere, Krishna later shows that his reasoning is clouded by grief and attachment. The Lord reframes the issue, teaching that fighting a righteous war as one's duty, without attachment, actually upholds dharma rather than destroying it.
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