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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
1.401.42

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.41

Concerns over dharma and family duty

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्न‍ानां कुलस्य च ।

पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ ४१ ॥

saṅkaro narakāyaiva

kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya ca

patanti pitaro hy eṣāṁ

lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

Translation

An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Family Duties and Devotion

  1. 1Unwanted population brings hellish life to families and those who destroy family traditions. Ancestors fall when food and water offerings stop.
  2. 2Rules for fruitive activities require regular offerings to ancestors through worship of Viṣṇu.
  3. 3Food first offered to Viṣṇu can free ancestors from sinful reactions, ghostly life and other suffering.
  4. 4Those not practicing devotional life must perform these family rituals; those engaged in devotion need not.
  5. 5Devotional service to the Supreme Lord fulfills these obligations and can deliver hundreds and thousands of ancestors from misery.

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 1.41 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 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.39Concerns over dharma and family dutyBG 1.40Concerns 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.