BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:39

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:39

 

kula-ksaye pranasyanti

kula-dharmah sanatanah

dharme naste kulam krtsnam

adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

kula-ksaye--in destroying the family; pranasyanti--become vanquished;

kula-dharmah--the family traditions; sanatanah--eternal;

dharme--religion; naste--being destroyed; kulam--family;

krtsnam--whole; adharmah--irreligion; abhibhavati--transforms; uta--it

is said.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is

vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in

irreligion.

 

PURPORT

 

In the system of the varnasrama institution there are many principles

of religious traditions to help members of the family grow properly

and attain spiritual values. The elder members are responsible for

such purifying processes in the family, beginning from birth to death.

But on the death of the elder members, such family traditions of

purification may stop, and the remaining younger family members may

develop irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual

salvation. Therefore, for no purpose should the elder members of the

family be slain.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.