In Bhagavad Gita 1.40, Arjuna warns that when a family is destroyed its ancient traditions perish, and when dharma is lost, disorder overtakes the whole family.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति
कुलधर्माः सनातनाः
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नम्
अधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ १-४० ॥
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti
kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnam
adharmo’bhibhavatyuta
English transliteration kulakshaye pranashyanti
kuladharmaah sanaatanaah
dharme nashte kulam kritsnam
adharmo’bhibhavatyuta ॥ 1.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When a family is destroyed, its ancient family traditions perish; and when dharma perishes, lawlessness overcomes the whole family.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कुलक्षये kulakṣaye | in the destruction of the family kula (family) + kṣaye (in destruction) |
| प्रणश्यन्ति praṇaśyanti | perish |
| कुलधर्माः kuladharmāḥ | family traditions, duties kula (family) + dharmāḥ (duties) |
| सनातनाः sanātanāḥ | ancient, age-old |
| धर्मे dharme | when dharma |
| नष्टे naṣṭe | is destroyed |
| कुलम् kulam | family |
| कृत्स्नम् kṛtsnam | whole |
| अधर्मः adharmaḥ | lawlessness, unrighteousness |
| अभिभवति abhibhavati | overcomes |
| उत uta | indeed |
Word-wise Chanting
- ku–la–kṣa–ye pra–ṇaś–yan–ti 8 syllables ku-la-ksha-ye pra-nash-yan-ti
- ku–la–dhar–māḥ sa–nā–ta–nāḥ | 8 syllables ku-la-dhar-maah sa-naa-ta-naah
- dhar–me naṣ–ṭe ku–laṃ kṛt–snam– 8 syllables dhar-me nash-te ku-lam krit-snam-
- a–dhar–mo–‘bhi–bha–vat–yu–ta || 1-40 8 syllables a-dhar-mo-‘bhi-bha-vat-yu-ta
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 40
Context
Arjuna now argues from the social consequences of war (1.40–1.44).
Meaning
In ancient India the family, kula, was the carrier of dharma: rituals, values, skills and memory passed from generation to generation. Arjuna fears that when the men who uphold these traditions are killed, the traditions themselves will die, and lawlessness, adharma, will spread. His argument rests on the importance of continuity in human life.
The concern is real and still relevant: violence destroys not only lives but the fabric of culture and meaning that holds a society together. Arjuna’s mistake is not in valuing tradition but in thinking that he can protect it by abandoning his duty now. Dharma is not preserved by avoiding the hard choices it sometimes demands.
In Practice
Name one good tradition or value from your family that you want to pass on. Practise or share it in some small way this week.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.