In Bhagavad Gita 1.43, Arjuna says that through the misdeeds of those who destroy the family, the age-old duties of community and family are uprooted.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां
वर्णसङ्करकारकैः
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः
कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ १-४३ ॥
doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ
varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ
kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ
English transliteration doshairetaih kulaghnaanaam
varnasankarakaarakaih
utsaadyante jaatidharmaah
kuladharmaashcha shaashvataah ॥ 1.43 ॥
Translation / Meaning
By these misdeeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of the social order, the duties of the community and the age-old family traditions are uprooted.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दोषैः doṣaiḥ | by misdeeds, faults |
| एतैः etaiḥ | by these |
| कुलघ्नानाम् kulaghnānām | of the destroyers of the family kula (family) + ghnānām (of the destroyers) |
| वर्णसङ्करकारकैः varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ | causing confusion of the social order varṇa (social order) + saṅkara (confusion) + kārakaiḥ (causing) |
| उत्साद्यन्ते utsādyante | are uprooted |
| जातिधर्माः jātidharmāḥ | community duties jāti (community, birth) + dharmāḥ (duties) |
| कुलधर्माः kuladharmāḥ | family traditions kula (family) + dharmāḥ (duties) |
| च ca | and |
| शाश्वताः śāśvatāḥ | age-old, perpetual |
Word-wise Chanting
- do–ṣai–re–taiḥ ku–lagh–nā–nāṃ 8 syllables do-shai-re-taih ku-lagh-naa-naam
- var–ṇa–saṅ–ka–ra–kā–ra–kaiḥ | 8 syllables var-na-san-ka-ra-kaa-ra-kaih
- ut–sād–yan–te jā–ti–dhar–māḥ 8 syllables ut-saad-yan-te jaa-ti-dhar-maah
- ku–la–dhar–māś–ca śāś–va–tāḥ || 1-43 8 syllables ku-la-dhar-maash-cha shaash-va-taah
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 43
Context
Arjuna summarises the social damage that he believes the war will cause (1.40–1.43).
Meaning
Arjuna sees the war as an attack on the whole structure of dharma: the duties of the community, jāti-dharma, and the customs of the family, kula-dharma, which he calls śāśvata, perpetual. In his view the warriors who destroy families become responsible for the collapse of social order itself.
The verse expresses a sincere concern for order and continuity. Yet Krishna will point to a dharma that is deeper than social custom: the eternal nature of the Self and the duty to act rightly in one’s own situation (2.31). Customs serve dharma; they are not identical to it. Arjuna is confusing the form with the essence.
In Practice
Distinguish in one area of your life between a custom you follow and the deeper value it serves. Ask whether the value would be better served in another way.
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.