Verse : 40
Kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ
Dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnam adharmo’bhibhavaty uta ||40||
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- Kula-kṣaye — When the family is destroyed
- Praṇaśyanti — Perish / are lost
- Kula-dharmāḥ — Family traditions / sacred customs of the lineage
- Sanātanāḥ — Ancient / eternal
- Dharme naṣṭe — When dharma (righteousness/duty) is lost
- Kulaṁ kṛtsnam — The entire family / the whole clan
- Adharmaḥ — Unrighteousness / irreligion
- Abhibhavati — Overcomes / dominates
- Uta — Indeed / certainly
When the family is destroyed, the eternal family traditions perish. When these traditions are lost, the entire family becomes overtaken by irreligion (adharma).
Expanded Meaning:
Arjuna now shifts the focus from personal sin to societal collapse. He emphasizes that the destruction caused by war does not end with the loss of life — it erodes the foundational dharmas (duties, values, and spiritual practices) that hold families and cultures together.
In a profound observation, he warns that when dharma dies, adharma (unrighteousness) fills the void.
Contextual and Moral Analysis:
1. “Kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti…” — Destruction Beyond the Physical
- “Kula” doesn’t just mean “family” as in blood relatives. In ancient Indian society, kula encompassed traditions, roles, spiritual responsibilities, and moral order.
- Arjuna says, when families die in war, it’s not just bodies that are lost — the sanātana dharma, the ancient codes of behavior and spiritual discipline, also disintegrate.
- The loss is intergenerational and cultural, not just military.
Insight: The destruction of value systems leads to chaos, even if the war appears victorious.
2. “Sanātanāḥ kula-dharmāḥ” — Eternal Duties
- Sanātana dharma refers to timeless moral and spiritual laws.
- Kula-dharmas included rituals, ancestor worship, charity, protection of women and elders, marriage rites, and moral upbringing.
- When warriors die, no one is left to uphold these responsibilities, leading to societal breakdown.
3. “Dharme naṣṭe… adharmo’bhibhavati” — A Moral Vacuum
- When righteousness is destroyed, adharma doesn’t wait. It immediately takes over.
- This is a deep observation about spiritual entropy — if light (dharma) is extinguished, darkness (adharma) automatically spreads.
- Arjuna warns that this shift leads to:
- Corruption in youth
- Disrespect of elders
- Rise in crime and indulgence
- Breakdown of sacred duties
This is not just about the battlefield — it’s a warning for all societies.
Philosophical Insights:
1. The Chain Reaction of Violence
- War might begin with weapons, but it ends in the collapse of ethical and cultural systems.
- Arjuna sees war as a moral earthquake — once family structures fall, everything sacred within them collapses.
2. The Importance of Dharma in Society
- Dharma is not just personal; it is collective.
- Kula-dharma upholds society, just as personal-dharma upholds the individual.
- Losing family dharma is like losing the roots of a tree — the whole tree (society) then withers.
3. Adharma as a Consequence, Not Just a Choice
- Adharma doesn’t need to be chosen actively. It arises naturally when dharma is neglected or forgotten.
- This is a powerful commentary on passive moral decline.
Spiritual Symbolism:
| Symbol | Represents |
|---|---|
| Kula (Family) | The inner structure of one’s moral and spiritual values |
| Kula-dharma | Duty, tradition, and sacred order that maintain harmony |
| Sanātana | Eternal truth — not bound by time or custom |
| Kula-kṣaya (destruction) | Collapse of these inner values due to conflict or ego |
| Adharma | Ignorance, selfishness, chaos, and materialism |
| Battlefield | The inner and outer life where decisions shape destiny |
Reflection Questions:
In today’s fast-paced world, what are the kula-dharmas (sacred family traditions) we are at risk of losing
When values are lost in a family or community, how can we restore them? Is it through education, rituals, or inner reform?
Do you ever witness adharma rising not because of evil intentions, but because no one stands up for dharma?
In times of stress or conflict, do you find your personal dharma weakening? How do you return to center?
Conclusion:
This verse is a profound warning from Arjuna — not just against war, but against the unseen and cascading effects of violence on family, culture, and morality. He asserts that wars don’t just destroy people; they destroy the very framework of dharma, creating a spiritual vacuum where adharma flourishes.
This reflects the timeless truth that when noble duties are abandoned, chaos fills the space. Arjuna pleads not just for peace, but for the preservation of eternal values — a message that echoes across all ages.