Verse 1.39
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः | धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ||३९||
Transliteration (IAST)
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ | dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta ||39||
Word-by-Word Meanings
कुलक्षये-in the destruction of the family
प्रणश्यन्ति-are destroyed
कुलधर्माः-family traditions/dharma
सनातनाः-eternal
अधर्मः-irreligion/adharma
अभिभवति-overcomes
Translation
With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions are destroyed; when dharma is lost, adharma overcomes the entire family.
Commentary
Arjuna now argues from social philosophy - family destruction leads to loss of dharmic traditions, which leads to societal collapse. This chain of consequences reflects genuine Vedic concerns about social order, but Krishna will elevate the discourse beyond social dharma to cosmic dharma.
Themes
dharmaduty