Bhagavad Gita BG 1.40
Chapter 1, Verse 40 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः । धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ ४० ॥
kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnam adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta
Meaning
When the family is destroyed, the eternal family traditions are lost; and when tradition is lost, irreligion (adharma) overcomes the whole family.
Understanding
Arjuna now makes a social and ethical argument that would have resonated deeply in ancient India. 'Kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ' — the eternal traditions of the family — are the religious and cultural practices maintained by each family line: rituals, festivals, duties, ethical customs passed from generation to generation. When families are destroyed in war, these traditions are lost. And when dharma (right order) is lost, adharma (disorder, sin) takes over.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कुलक्षये | kula-kṣaye | in the destruction of the family |
| कुलधर्माः | kula-dharmāḥ | family traditions / duties of the family |
| सनातनाः | sanātanāḥ | eternal / ancient / time-honoured |
| धर्मे नष्टे | dharme naṣṭe | when dharma is destroyed / when tradition is lost |
| अधर्मः | adharmaḥ | irreligion / disorder / unrighteousness |
| अभिभवति | abhibhavati | overcomes / prevails over |
| प्रणश्यन्ति | praṇaśyanti | are lost / perish / disappear |
| कुलम् | kulam | the family / the clan |
| कृत्स्नम् | kṛtsnam | entire / whole / completely |
| उत | uta | also / moreover / and even |