Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 1.40 कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः
श्लोक 1.40
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ |
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कुल के नष्ट होने पर उसकी सनातन कुल-परम्पराएँ भी नष्ट हो जाती हैं, और धर्म के नष्ट होने पर पूरे कुल में अधर्म फैल जाता है।
Meaning in English
When a family is destroyed, its age-old traditions of dharma perish. When dharma is lost, lawlessness overtakes the whole family.
Bhagavad Gita 1.40 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कुल-क्षये | kula-kṣaye | when a family is destroyed |
| प्रणश्यन्ति | praṇaśyanti | perish |
| कुल-धर्माः | kula-dharmāḥ | family traditions and duties |
| सनातनाः | sanātanāḥ | age-old |
| धर्मे | dharme | when dharma |
| नष्टे | naṣṭe | is lost |
| कुलम् | kulam | the family |
| कृत्स्नम् | kṛtsnam | whole |
| अधर्मः | adharmaḥ | lawlessness |
| अभिभवति | abhibhavati | overwhelms |
| उत | uta | indeed |
Explanation
When a family is destroyed, its age-old traditions perish; and when those traditions are lost, lawlessness overtakes the whole family.
Kula-dharma means the customs, rites and values passed down within a family line. Arjuna fears that a war killing the men of the clan will break that chain of transmission. The concern is real in any society shattered by war: when elders die, a whole way of life can be lost. Arjuna is now arguing on a social scale, not only a personal one.
भावार्थ
कुल का नाश होने पर सनातन कुल-धर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं, और धर्म के नष्ट होने पर सारे कुल पर अधर्म छा जाता है।
Living it today
Traditions survive through people who live them. Value the elders and practices that carry what is good in your family.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 1.40?
When a family is destroyed, its age-old traditions perish; and when those traditions are lost, lawlessness overtakes the whole family.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.40?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 1 (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 1.40 in daily life?
Traditions survive through people who live them. Value the elders and practices that carry what is good in your family.
Reflected on verse 1.40?
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