उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे जनार्दन जिनके कुलधर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं, उन मनुष्यों का बहुत काल तक नरकों में वापस होता है, ऐसा हम सुनते आये हैं ॥
English
O Janardana, we have always heard that those whose family duties are destroyed dwell long in a lower realm.
What this verse means
Arjuna says he has heard that people who destroy family duties end up suffering for a long time in a lower realm.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna keeps listing the consequences of fighting his own kin. After warning that family order will collapse, he recalls a grim teaching: when family duties are destroyed, people suffer in a lower realm for a long time. This deepens his refusal to fight.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to sign something that will hurt your own family later. The short-term win looks smaller when you can already see the damage spreading.
The takeaway
The fear is not abstract anymore. He feels the cost of war reaching into the family line.
Word-by-word translation
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम् (of those whose family duties are destroyed) / मनुष्याणाम् (of people) / जनार्दन (O Janardana) / नरके (in a lower realm) / अनियतं (for an indefinite time) / वासः (dwelling) / भवति (there is) / इति (thus) / अनुशुश्रुम (we have heard)
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: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna vishada (14 verses), adharma (12 verses)