40. kulaksaye pranasyanti
kuladharmdh sanatandh
dharme naste kulat krtsnam
adharmo 'bhibhat,aty uta
(40) In the ruin of a family, its ancient laws are destroyed : and when the laws perish, the whole family yields to lawlessness
Wars tend to tear us away from our natural home surroundings and uproot us from social traditions which are the distillation of the mature will and experience of the people.
41. adharmabhibhavat krsna
pradusyanti kulastriyah
strip dustasu varsneya
jayate varnasamkarah
(41) And when lawlessness prevails, 0 Varsneya (Krsna), the women of the family become corrupted and when women are corrupted, confusion of castes arises Varna is usually translated by caste, though the present system of caste in no way corresponds to the Gita ideal.
42. samkaro narakayai 'va
kulaghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro by esam
luptapindodakakriyah
(42) And to hell does this confusion bring the family itself as well as those who have destroyed it. For the spirits of their ancestors fall, deprived of their offerings of rice and water
It refers to the belief that the deceased ancestors require these offerings for their welfare.
43. dosair etaih kulaghnanam
vanasamkarakarakai
utsadyante jatidharmah
kuladharmas` ca sasvath
(43) By the misdeeds of those who destroy a family and create confusion of varnas, the immemorial laws of the caste and the family are destroyed. When we shatter the ideals enshrined in immemorial traditions, when we disturb the social equilibrium, we only bring chaos into the world.
