Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -1
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40. With the extinction of the family, the ancient family traditions[1] die away; and when the traditional religious observances (making for virtue) get lost, unrighteousness (or vice) overpowers the entire race.'
41. When unrighteousness prevails, Krsna, the women of noble families will become corrupted; ami when women are corrupted, confusion of castes will take place, O Vārsney.[2]
42. Such confusion (of castes) surely takes to hell the destroyers of the families as well as the families destroyed. Deprived[3] of the offerings of pinda and water,[4] their manes fall (from their place in Pitr-ioka).[5] |
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References and Context
- ↑ Good life is lived on earth by following the injunctions of the Vedas and the Smrtis (canonical law-codes). While prescribing the rituals of religion and the rules of moral conduct, the scriptures lay great stress on the observance of iifia-ācāras (practices of the virtuous and wise) and of kula-dharmas (family traditions), instead of bringing everything under a common written code tor all because of the divergence of views among the several law-givers regarding the details of religious and secular conduct. (Naiko mimir-yasya mtam prnmā- nam mahajano yena gatali-sa panthāb • M.B. Vana 314-119)
- ↑ Descendant of Vfsni.
- ↑ The offspring Of promiscuous alliances are spiritually disqualified for the performance of the riles for the manes. BcinR impure in origin, they may also ignore performing the riles or be wanting in the needed faith (śracMhā). In any case, the manes will not recivc their due.
- ↑ 'hida means ball of rice : ' water1 ttttś W tarpapu. libation of water. These constitute the ritualistic offering to the manes.
- ↑ The world of the manes.