Bhagavad Gita BG 1.39
Chapter 1, Verse 39 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ ३९ ॥
kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana
Meaning
O Janardana, how should we not know to turn away from this sin — we who can clearly see the evil in the destruction of the family?
Understanding
This verse continues directly from the previous one. If we can see what they cannot — the evil of family destruction — then how can we not step back from this sin? The word 'prapaśyadbhiḥ' means 'by those who clearly see.' Arjuna is building a case that moral awareness creates moral responsibility. The Gita will later address this: Arjuna sees clearly on the human level but not on the ultimate level — that is what the teaching will correct.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कथम् | katham | how / in what way |
| न ज्ञेयम् | na jñeyam | should not be known / why should we not know |
| पापात् | pāpāt | from sin |
| निवर्तितुम् | nivartitum | to turn away / to refrain |
| प्रपश्यद्भिः | prapaśyadbhiḥ | by those who clearly see |
| अस्माभिः | asmābhiḥ | by us / we (instrumental) |
| अस्मात् | asmāt | from this (sin) |
| कुलक्षयकृतम् | kula-kṣaya-kṛtam | wrought by the destruction of family |
| दोषम् | doṣam | the evil / the wrong / the fault |
| जनार्दन | janārdana | O Janardana — Krishna (refuge of beings) |