Arjuna continues his devastating chain of logic, explaining the ultimate spiritual catastrophe that results from the social chaos he predicted. The forty-second verse, known as the Sankaro Narakayaiva verse, extends the consequences of the war beyond the living, and even beyond the future generations, to the very souls of the ancestors in the afterlife. This argument reveals the depth of his understanding of Vedic tradition.
Sanskrit Verse
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ ४२ ॥Transliteration
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṁ kulasya ca |
patanti pitaro hyeṣāṁ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ || 42 ||Word for Word Translation
saṅkaraḥ – such unwanted children; narakāya – for hellish life; eva – certainly; kula-ghnānām – of the destroyers of the family; kulasya – of the family; ca – also; patanti – they fall down; pitaraḥ – the forefathers; hi eṣām – of them; lupta – suspended; piṇḍa – of offerings of food; udaka – and water; kriyāḥ – the performances.
English Translation
An increase in the unwanted population certainly causes a hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall, because the performances of offering them food and water are entirely stopped.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This powerful statement completes Arjuna’s sociological argument with a terrifying spiritual conclusion. He explains that the `varṇa-saṅkara` (unwanted progeny) he mentioned in the previous verse leads directly to hell (`narakāya`), not only for the family but for the destroyers of the family as well. His reasoning is based on a core Vedic belief:
- Patanti pitaro hyeṣām: “Their forefathers fall down.” In Vedic tradition, the souls of the ancestors (pitṛs) reside in a celestial realm, but their position is sustained by the regular performance of sacred rites by their living descendants.
- Lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ: This is the key to the verse. It means “the rituals of offering `piṇḍa` (rice balls) and `udaka` (water) are suspended.” These rituals, known as Śrāddha, are a sacred duty. Arjuna fears that the `varṇa-saṅkara` generation, having no connection to the family traditions, will not know how or will not care to perform these essential rites.
Without this spiritual sustenance from their descendants, the ancestors lose their place in the heavenly realms and “fall down.” Therefore, in Arjuna’s eyes, this war is not just murder; it is an act that damns his entire lineage, past, present, and future. It is a sin of unimaginable proportions.
Conclusion
Arjuna’s argument in this verse is a profound statement on the interconnectedness of generations. It presents a worldview where the living and the dead are bound together by a sacred thread of mutual duty and remembrance. The well-being of the ancestors depends on the actions of the living, and the stability of the living depends on the blessings of the ancestors. To break this chain is to cause a spiritual catastrophe for all.
This verse challenges us to think about our own sense of legacy. What do we owe to those who came before us? And what responsibility do we have to those who will come after? Arjuna’s lament is a powerful reminder that our actions have consequences that ripple through time. He sees the war as an act that will sever his family from its sacred roots, a tragedy so complete that it leads to a spiritual hell for everyone involved.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 43 – Doshair Etaih Kula Ghnanam
