The Verse
श्लोक
Translation
अनुवाद
English
By the misdeeds of those who destroy the family and cause confusion, the eternal family and community traditions are devastated.
हिंदी
इन वर्णसंकर उत्पन्न करने वाले कुलघातियों के दोषों से शाश्वत जाति-धर्म और कुल-धर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं।
Deep Reflection
गहन चिंतन
Arjuna summarizes the cascade:
The misdeeds of family destroyers devastate eternal traditions—both family traditions and community traditions.
Nothing survives such destruction intact.
The Psychology of Irreversible Loss
"Utsādyante"—are devastated, uprooted, destroyed. The eternal traditions don't just weaken—they're obliterated.
Some things, once broken, cannot be repaired. Traditions that took generations to build can be destroyed in moments.
Two Levels of Tradition
"Jāti-dharmāḥ" (community traditions) and "kula-dharmāḥ" (family traditions). Both layers are affected.
It's not just your family's practices but your community's, your culture's. The destruction doesn't stop at household boundaries.
Eternal Yet Destructible
"Śāśvatāḥ"—eternal, timeless. Yet these eternal things can be destroyed.
Something can be meant to last forever and still be destroyed by violence. Permanence is a project, not a guarantee.
The Fault of Destroyers
"Doṣaiḥ... kula-ghnānām"—the faults of family destroyers. Arjuna places clear blame.
Even if circumstances drive action, those who act bear the consequences. Arjuna is clear: participate in destruction, own the destruction.
Why Comprehensive Arguments Demand Profound Responses
Arjuna has now traced consequences from battlefield to family to ancestors to entire social order. The argument is complete.
Arjuna has made a thorough case against fighting. Every angle covered. But Krishna will show that thorough isn't the same as complete. There's more to see.
What This Means for You
व्यावहारिक ज्ञान
Some destruction is permanent. Not everything can be rebuilt. Act accordingly.
Destruction ripples across levels. Your family, your community, your culture—all connected.
"Eternal" requires maintenance. Traditions meant to last forever can still be destroyed.
Destroyers bear responsibility. Circumstances may drive you; consequences still follow.
Live With It
इस श्लोक को जिएं
Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall.
We live with a modern myth that everything is fixable. "We'll fix it in post." "We can always apologize."
Arjuna says: "Utsadyante" (they are uprooted/destroyed). Some things, once broken, cannot be put back together.
Trust. Innocence. A childhood home. A reputation.
Once you shatter the "kula-dharma" (family tradition) of safety, it's gone. You can build something new, but you can't get the old thing back.
This isn't to paralyze you with fear, but to ground you in reality. Handle the fragile things with care. They don't have a "Undo" button.
A Question to Sit With
चिंतन के लिए प्रश्न
"What "eternal" thing in your life actually requires constant maintenance and protection?"