Chapter 1, Verse 44
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम।।
utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana nirake 'niyataṁ vāso bhavatīty anuśuśruma
Meaning
O Janardana, we have heard from the tradition that those men whose family dharmas are destroyed must dwell in hell for an indefinite period.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Arjuna invokes traditional teaching to support his argument: 'anuśuśruma' — we have heard from the tradition. He is appealing to the authority of accumulated wisdom, the understanding passed down through generations. This is not blind superstition; it is the respect for received wisdom that characterises a culture that understands its continuity depends on learning from those who came before.
The 'indefinite hell' (narake 'niyataṁ) for those who destroy family dharma reflects the Vedic understanding of karmic consequence: the destruction of conditions for right living reverberates through many cycles of time, affecting not just the current life but the entire trajectory of consciousness. The magnitude of the consequence reflects the magnitude of the responsibility.
However, Arjuna's invocation of tradition is selectively applied: the same tradition equally supports the dharmic duty of a warrior to fight injustice, to protect the weak, and to uphold righteousness. He is choosing which part of the tradition to hear. This is a universal human tendency — when we are afraid, we remember the teachings that support inaction and forget those that call us to courage.
💡 Key Takeaway
When fear or grief drives us, we selectively remember the parts of our tradition or values that support inaction — seek the full picture before deciding.
Related Verses
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya ||1||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?
सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।
sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt
Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām ācārya mahatīṁ camūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, so skilfully arrayed by the son of Drupada — your own talented student.