Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 44 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन | नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम (or नरकेऽनियतं) ||१-४४||
Transliteration
utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana . narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ||1-44||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
1.44. We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling for an unknown period in hell for those men in whose families the religious practices have been destroyed.
।।1.44।।हे जनार्दन ! हमने सुना है कि जिनके यहां कुल धर्म नष्ट हो जाता है, उन मनुष्यों का अनियत काल तक नरक में वास होता है।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
In professional life, this verse highlights the importance of upholding ethical standards, company values, and sustainable practices. Decisions made in haste or for short-term gain that erode the foundational 'dharma' (integrity, trust, fair play) of an organization or industry can lead to long-term negative consequences, including reputational damage, legal issues, and a toxic work culture. Consider the lasting impact of your actions on your team, company legacy, and even the broader professional community.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
Much stress and mental anguish arise from actions or choices that conflict with one's core values or sense of duty. The 'dwelling in hell' can be interpreted as the internal suffering of guilt, regret, and anxiety that comes from compromising one's integrity or neglecting essential 'dharma' (self-care, moral principles, healthy habits). Recognizing this connection can empower individuals to make choices aligned with their values, thereby reducing internal conflict and fostering a sense of peace and stability.
❤️ In Relationships
This verse underscores the critical role of preserving core family values, traditions, and mutual respect. Actions that destroy the 'kuladharma' – the foundational principles like trust, open communication, shared understanding, and support – within a family or relationship can lead to prolonged discord, estrangement, and a breakdown of the family unit, impacting not just the present generation but also future ones. Upholding these 'religious practices' in a modern sense means actively nurturing bonds, respecting boundaries, and maintaining shared principles that hold the relationship together.
parenting
The concept of 'kuladharma' applies profoundly to parenting. This verse warns that when parents neglect to instill ethical values, cultural heritage, or responsible conduct in their children, or when their own actions destroy the family's moral foundation, it can lead to significant and lasting struggles for the children and subsequent generations. It emphasizes the critical responsibility of parents to uphold and transmit positive values and practices for the well-being and future success of their lineage.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Ignoring the preservation of foundational values and ethical practices leads to inevitable, prolonged suffering for individuals and their lineage.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
1.44 उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम् whose family religious practices are destroyed? मनुष्याणाम् of the men? जनार्दन O Janardana? नरके in hell? अनियतं for unknown period? वासः dwelling? भवति is? इति thus? अनुशुश्रुम we have heard.No Commentary.
Shri Purohit Swami
1.44 The wise say, my Lord, that they are forever lost, whose ancient traditions are lost.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
1.44. O Janardana! Dwelling in the hell is ite certain for men with their family-duties fallen into disuse: this we have heard.
Swami Adidevananda
1.44 For those whose clan-laws are destroyed, dwelling in hell is ordained, O Krsna; thus have we heard.
Swami Gambirananda
1.44 O Janardana, we have heard that living in hell becomes inevitable for those persons whose family duties get destroyed.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।1.44।। इसके उपरान्त भी भगवान् कुछ नहीं बोले। अब अर्जुन की स्थिति ऐसी हो गयी थी कि वह न तो चुप रह सकता था और न उसको नये तर्क ही सूझ रहे थे। परन्तु भगवान् के मौन का प्रभाव भी अनूठा ही था। इस श्लोक में अर्जुन पारम्परिक कथन ही उद्धृत करता है।हिन्दुओं के लिये धर्म ही संस्कृति है। इसलिये कुलधर्म के महत्व पर पर्याप्त प्रकाश डाला जा चुका है। इसी कारण अर्जुन यहाँ एक बार फिर कुलधर्म नाश के दुष्परिणामों की ओर ध्यान आकर्षित करता है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
1.44।। व्याख्या--'उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम् ৷৷. अनुशुश्रुम'--(टिप्पणी प0 30) भगवान्ने मनुष्यको विवेक दिया है, नया कर्म करनेका अधिकार दिया है। अतः यह कर्म करनेमें अथवा न करनेमें, अच्छा करनेमें अथवा मन्दा करनेमें स्वतन्त्र है। इसलिये इसको सदा विवेक-विचारपूर्वक कर्तव्य-कर्म करने चाहिये। परन्तु मनुष्य सुखभोग आदिके लोभमें आकर अपने विवेकका निरादर कर देते हैं और राग-द्वेषके वशीभूत हो जाते हैं, जिससे उनके आचरण शास्त्र और कुलमर्यादाके विरुद्ध होने लगते हैं। परिणामस्वरूप इस लोकमें उनकी निन्दा, अपमान, तिरस्कार होता है और परलोकमें दुर्गति, नरकोंकी प्राप्ति होती है। अपने पापोंके कारण उनको बहुत समयतक नरकोंका कष्ट भोगना पड़ता है। ऐसा हम परम्परासे बड़े-बूढ़े गुरुजनोंसे सुनते आये हैं। 'मनुष्याणाम्'--पदमें कुलघाती और उनके कुलके सभी मनुष्योंका समावेश किया गया है अर्थात् कुलघातियोंके पहले जो हो चुके हैं--उन (पितरों) का, अपना और आगे होनेवाले-(वंश-) का समावेश किया गया है।सम्बन्ध-- युद्धके होनेवाली अनर्थ-परम्पराके वर्णनका खुद अर्जुनपर क्या असर पड़ा? इसको आगेके श्लोकमें बताते हैं।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।1.44।।हे जनार्दन ! हमने सुना है कि जिनके यहां कुल धर्म नष्ट हो जाता है, उन मनुष्यों का अनियत काल तक नरक में वास होता है।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।1.44।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.11.
Sri Anandgiri
।।1.44।।राज्यप्राप्तिप्रयुक्तसुखोपभोगलब्धतया स्वजनहिंसायां प्रवृत्तिरस्माकं गुणदोषविभागविज्ञानवतामतिकष्टेति परिभ्रष्टहृदयः सन्नाह अहो बतेति।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।1.43 1.44।।Sri Vallabhacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Sridhara Swami
।। 1.44।।No commentary.