Arjuna now concludes his entire case against the war with a final, chilling pronouncement. The forty-fourth verse, known as the Utsanna Kula Dharmanam verse, is his ultimate statement on the karmic destiny of those who participate in this family-destroying war. Citing the highest authority he knows, Arjuna declares the inevitable and horrifying outcome for all involved.
Sanskrit Verse
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ ४४ ॥Transliteration
utsannakuladharmāṇāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana |
narake niyataṁ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma || 44 ||Word for Word Translation
utsanna – destroyed; kula-dharmāṇām – of those whose family traditions; manuṣyāṇām – of the men; janārdana – O Janardana (Krishna); narake – in hell; niyatam – always; vāsaḥ – residence; bhavati – it so becomes; iti – thus; anuśuśruma – I have heard by disciplic succession.
English Translation
O Janardana, I have heard from the authorities that those men whose family traditions are destroyed always dwell in hell.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This powerful statement is Arjuna’s final piece of evidence, and he presents it as an undeniable truth. This is not his own opinion; it is the sacred knowledge he has received.
- Utsanna-kula-dharmāṇām: “Of those whose family traditions are destroyed.” He creates a specific category for the men who will be responsible for the chaos he has just described.
- Narake niyataṁ vāsaḥ: “Their residence is always in hell.” This is the terrifying conclusion. He is not talking about a temporary punishment, but a perpetual (`niyatam`) state of suffering (`narake`). This is the ultimate spiritual consequence, a fate worse than death on the battlefield.
- Iti anuśuśruma: “Thus I have heard.” This is the most important phrase in the verse. Arjuna is not speculating. He is citing his sources—the `parampara`, or the disciplic succession of sages and teachers. In Vedic culture, knowledge received through this unbroken chain of authority is considered infallible proof. He is essentially saying, “This is not my emotional feeling; this is the absolute truth as taught by the wise.”
By presenting this as scriptural truth, Arjuna has boxed himself into a corner. He has proven to himself, through logic, sociology, and now sacred authority, that to fight this war is to condemn himself and everyone he loves to an eternal, hellish existence.
Conclusion
Arjuna’s declaration here is the culmination of his human intellect and moral reasoning. He has used every tool at his disposal—compassion, logic, social analysis, and scriptural authority—to arrive at a single, unwavering conclusion: this war is a sin that leads to hell. He believes his case is airtight and that inaction is the only moral path.
This verse teaches us about the power and the limitations of received knowledge. Arjuna is not wrong to trust the teachings of the sages. However, his grief and attachment have caused him to apply that knowledge in a limited, personal way. He has built a perfect prison of logic for himself, and he sees no escape. It is only at this point of absolute certainty in his own despair that he is truly ready to be taught. Krishna’s teachings will not contradict the ancient wisdom Arjuna cites; instead, they will illuminate it with a divine light, revealing a deeper meaning of duty that Arjuna cannot yet see.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 45 – Aho Bata Mahat Papam
