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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.391.41

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.40

Concerns over dharma and family duty

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।

स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ४० ॥

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa

praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ

strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya

jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

Translation

When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, comes unwanted progeny.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Family and Spiritual Progress

  1. 1The verse says that irreligion in a family leads to the degradation of women and the birth of unwanted children.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a good population is the basis of peace, prosperity and spiritual progress.
  3. 3Varṇāśrama principles support such a population, which depends on women’s chastity and faithfulness.
  4. 4Elders should protect women and children. Family religious practices help women remain faithful and avoid adultery.
  5. 5Irresponsible men also encourage adultery. The resulting unwanted population puts society at risk of war and disease.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: concerns over dharma and family duty.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Honest questions open the way to wisdom.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.40 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.39Concerns over dharma and family dutyBG 1.41Concerns over dharma and family dutyBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.