कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
कुल का क्षय होने पर सदा से चलते आये कुलधर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं और धर्म का नाश होनेपर बचे हुए सम्पूर्ण कुल को अधर्म दबा लेता है ॥
English
When a family falls apart, its ancient duties disappear. When duty is lost, wrongdoing overtakes the whole family.
What this verse means
When a family is broken, its long-standing duties disappear. Once duty is gone, wrongdoing spreads through the whole family.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna looks beyond the fight and sees a larger collapse. If the Kuru family is destroyed, its old duties will vanish, and the disorder of war will spread through everything that remains.
Why this verse still matters
A household where promises keep getting broken does not stay stable for long. Soon the children learn the chaos as normal, and everyone starts living by damage control instead of responsibility.
The takeaway
A broken structure does not stay neutral for long; it quickly trains people toward harm.
Word-by-word translation
कुलक्षये (on the destruction of the family) / प्रणश्यन्ति (are destroyed) / कुलधर्माः (family duties) / सनातनाः (ancient, eternal) । / धर्मे (when duty) / नष्टे (is destroyed) / कुलम् (the family) / कृत्स्नम् (entire) / अधर्मः (wrongdoing) / अभिभवति (overpowers) / उत (indeed)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga — The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: adharma (12 verses)