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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
1.411.43

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.42

Concerns over dharma and family duty

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्न‍ानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।

उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ ४२ ॥

doṣair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ

varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ

utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ

kula-dharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ

Translation

By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Family Tradition and Society

  1. 1Evil deeds that destroy family tradition and produce unwanted children ruin community projects and family welfare activities.
  2. 2These activities, set out in sanātana-dharma, or varṇāśrama-dharma, help people attain ultimate salvation.
  3. 3Irresponsible leaders who break this tradition bring chaos to society.
  4. 4As a result, people forget the aim of life—Viṣṇu.
  5. 5Prabhupāda calls such leaders blind; those who follow them are led into chaos.

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 1.42 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.