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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
1.421.44

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.43

Concerns over dharma and family duty

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।

नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुश‍ुश्रुम ॥ ४३ ॥

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ

manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana

narake niyataṁ vāso

bhavatīty anuśuśruma

Translation

O Kṛṣṇa, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Hearing from Proper Authorities

  1. 1Arjuna tells Kṛṣṇa he has heard through disciplic succession that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.
  2. 2Arjuna bases his argument on hearing from authorities, not on his own experience.
  3. 3Real knowledge requires help from someone already established in that knowledge.
  4. 4The varṇāśrama system requires atonement for sinful acts before death. This is called prāyaścitta.
  5. 5Those who keep committing sinful acts must atone; otherwise, they suffer miserable lives on hellish planets.

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 1.43 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.

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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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Ask about BG 1.43 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

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.