Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 44

English Translation

O Janardana, we have heard that living in hell becomes inevitable for those persons whose family duties get destroyed.

Detailed Commentary

1.44 Explanation: Regarding 'उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम्... अनुशुश्रुम' (those whose family traditions are destroyed... we have heard)—The Lord has bestowed upon humanity the power of discernment (viveka) and the right to perform new actions. Therefore, one has the freedom to act or not to act, to do good or evil. Humans should perform their prescribed duties (kartavya-karma) with discernment and careful consideration. However, humans, motivated by the greed for sense-enjoyment (sukha-bhoga), disregard their discernment and become subject to attachment and aversion (raga-dvesha), causing their conduct to become contrary to the Shastras and family traditions (kula-maryada). The consequence of this is that in this world, they face censure, humiliation, and scorn, and in the other world (paraloka), they attain degradation (durgati) and enter the hells (narakas). Due to their sins, they must endure the suffering of hells for a long time. This is what we have traditionally heard from elders and revered teachers (gurujanas). In the word 'manushyanam' (of men), the destroyers of the family (kulaghati) and all individuals of their family are included, meaning the ancestors of the family-destroyers, themselves, and their future descendants are also included. Connection: The effect of this description of the succession of calamitous consequences (anartha-parampara) resulting from war on Arjuna is described in the subsequent verse.