Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

yady apy ete na pasyanti
lobhopahata-cetasaḥ;
kula-kṣaya-krtaṁ doṣaṁ
mitra-drohe ca patakam

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmabhiḥ;
papad asman nivartitum
kula-kṣaya-krtaṁ doṣaṁ
prapasyadbhir janardana
[Bg. 1.37-38]

Translation: "O Janardana, although these men, overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, with knowledge of the sin, engage in these acts?"

Prabhupada: So other party, Duryodhana's party, they were not considering all these pious or impious, sinful or vicious, activities. Because lobha-upahata-cetasaḥ;: "They have lost their sense on account of greediness for acquiring the empire." When one becomes lusty or overpowered by greediness, then he loses all intelligence. There are many places stated that. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñanaḥ; yajanti anya-devataḥ; [Bg. 7.20]. Krṣṇa says that "Those who are worshipers of other demigods..." Actually worshipful is the Supreme Lord Krṣṇa. Others, they should be shown respect. But worship means for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is worshipful. Saraṇyam. He is to be taken shelter of; He is to be worshiped. That is being taught. That is religion. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji maṁ namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, worshiping Him, offering Him obeisances, that is Krṣṇa consciousness movement. The Deity room offering obeisances, worshiping, chanting, dancing, always be engaged to offer respect and submission to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the duty of everyone. Because all living entities are by constitution eternal servant. That is their healthy position. So long they remain servant of the Supreme, that is healthy. Same example, I have given many times, that my part and parcel of the body, this finger, so long it is fit to give service to the body, it is healthy. If it cannot give service, then it is diseased. Similarly, all living entities who are not giving, rendering any service to the Lord, they are simply working for sense gratification, that is diseased condition. And in the diseased condition, nobody can be happy. That is not possible. If you have got some disease, you cannot be happy.

So that is the position. They cannot understand that by serving Krṣṇa, we become healthy or in our normal position. This is called ignorance. Somebody is trying to forget Him, somebody is trying to become equal with Him. This business is going on. And nobody is submitting that "My Lord, I forgot my service. From this day, I become again Your servant. Please give me protection." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam... [Bg. 18.66]. This is the teaching of all sastra, all Vedas. But these people, the other party, they have become blind. They have become blind. Why? Lobha-upahata-cetasaḥ;. They have lost their sense. Kula-kṣaya-krtaṁ doṣam. There is a great fault by destroying dynasty. Nowadays people are destroying from the womb, abortion, contraception, destroying. They do not know. Kula-kṣaya. Actually putra. Putra means, put means puṁ-nama-narakam. There is a hell which is called puṁ-nama-naraka. And tra means trayate, deliver. So putra means puṁ-nama-narakat trayate iti putra. The Sanskrit word for son, putra means that the son is expected to deliver the forefathers from the hellish condition of life. Sometimes due to our sinful activities, we become ghost. That is very hellish condition. So when sraddha is offered by the putra..., who will offer? The putra will offer. That is the duty. Then he gets again material body. These are the subtle laws. People do not know. Neither they are eager to know. But these are the information we get from Vedic literature. Putra has got a duty, to save the forefathers. Therefore one has to, it is his duty to keep a putra. At least one son he must leave. But people are not very much anxious to have putra. Rather to kill putra. They are so sinful. Kama-lobha-hata-cetasaḥ;. Simply sense enjoyment. That's all. Why bharya? Why one should marry? Putrarthe kriyate bharya. Bharya means wife. One accepts a wife. Why? For a putra. For a son. Why son is required? Putraḥ; piṇḍaṁ prayojanam. Offering oblations by the putra to deliver the forefathers. That is prayojanam, that is absolutely necessary. Each and every one should leave a putra before his death. He has got so many duties. This is Vedic civilization. But nobody now cares for that. Neither it is possible. Therefore the only remedy is to surrender. Saraṇyam.

devarṣi-bhutapta-nrṇaṁ pitṝṇaṁ
nayam rṇi na kiṅkara(s ca) rajan
sarvatmana ye saraṇaṁ saraṇyaṁ
gato mukundaṁ parihrtya kartum
[SB 11.5.41]

The one excuse is that every one of us, we are indebted to devarṣi, devata, the demigods. The demigods. Just like Indra. He supplies us water. Just like we are obliged to pay tax to the water department, to the fire department, to the education department, so many departments government. Or once we pay our income tax, that is distributed to so many departments. So actually why we pay? Because we are indebted. Now, the sunshine, we are getting advantage of sunshine. So we are indebted to the sun-god. Similarly, we are indebted to the moon-god. We are receiving so much advantages. Varuṇa. Deva. So we are indebted to so many demigods. Similarly, we are indebted to the rṣis. Just like Vyasadeva. He has given us this Vedic literature. We are taking advantage of it. So we must feel indebted. Deva rṣi, rṣi. First of all, we are indebted to the devatas, and then to the rṣis, then the bhutas, ordinary living entities. Just like we are taking milk from the cow. We are indebted. "No, we are killing them." They are committing simply sinful life and they want to be happy and peaceful. Just see. We are indebted. I am obliged to you for your service. So instead of feeling obligation, if I cut your throat, how gentleman I am, just see, imagine. So we are indebted. Devarṣi-bhutapta-nrṇaṁ pitṝṇam [SB 11.5.41]. And pitṝṇam, these pitr, kula-kṣaya, forefathers. I have got this body... From my grandfather, my father has got this body; from my father, I have got this body. I am also indebted. Because this body, human body, is a chance for understanding, for my position. I can get out of the clutches of this maya of transmigrating from one body to another. So this opportunity I have got by the grace of my forefathers. These are feelings of obligation. And there is duty. Therefore Arjuna is considering so many things because he is devotee. Kula-kṣaya-krtaṁ doṣaṁ mitra-drohe ca patakam [Bg. 1.37]. "These rascals, they have become lost of their intelligence on account of greediness for acquiring the empire. But so far I am concerned," Arjuna said, kathaṁ na jñeyam asmabhiḥ; [Bg. 1.38]. Plural number: "By us." "Us" means including Krṣṇa. He is saying not "I" or "by me." He is including Krṣṇa: "You are in this side; so because You are on my side, You are my charioteer, if I do not consider all these things, what people will say? That 'Arjuna is such a great devotee of Krṣṇa. And Krṣṇa is there. He is committing such sinful activities.' " Therefore he says, kathaṁ na jñeyam asmabhiḥ;. He is dragging Krṣṇa also. That is right, yes. A saintly person, a devotee, should consider all these things, before acting, "Whether I am doing it property or improperly?" This is Arjuna. The other party, lobha-upahata-cetasaḥ;. Upahata-cetasaḥ;. They have lost their sense. But we cannot. A devotee must be very responsible. He must act in such a way that nobody can blame him. Otherwise everyone say, "What kind of devotee he is?" So this is the duty. They should be very cautious. A sannyasi, they should be very cautious. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, sannyasira alpa-chidre bahu kari' mane. An ordinary grhastha, or... Grhastha only, If he talks with woman nobody will blame. He is grhastha. But if a sannyasi talks with woman very intimately, oh, immediately people will take note of it. Sannyasira alpa-chidre bahu kari' mane. That is the practice. He should be very cautious. So a devotee, a sannyasi, they have got very, very great responsibility. People will very easily criticize them. So Arjuna is considering all these points. Kathaṁ na jñeyam asmabhiḥ; papad asman nivartitum [Bg. 1.38]. They may indulge in these sinful activities, how we can indulge? What people will say? Kula-kṣaya-krtaṁ doṣaṁ prapasyadbhir janardana. "He Janardana, You are maintainer of the people. So if the people become sinful, so it is very difficult to maintain them." These things are being considered. Kula-kṣaya. So we cannot destroy family. But on one condition we can become free from all this obligation. What is that? Gataḥ; sarabyaṁ parihrtya kartum [SB 11.5.41]. Saraṇyam. Mukunda-caraṇam. One who has dedicated his life simply to serve Mukunda, Krṣṇa, Mukunda. Muk means mukti, liberation. And ananda. Krṣṇa gives liberation, His name is Govinda, Mukunda. Hundreds and thousands of names Krṣṇa has got. So if one has taken, fully surrendering unto the lotus feet of Mukunda, he has no more any obligation, either these pitr, devarṣi, deva, devata, demigod, rṣi, bhuta. He is immune because he is transcendental. But so long one is not a devotee, one who is not fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Mukunda, he must have to follow all these regulative principles and duties. He cannot be released. Everything, account is kept. Prakrteḥ; kriyamaṇani guṇaiḥ; karmaṇi sarvasaḥ; [Bg. 3.27]. Everything is noted down. Karmaṇa daiva-netreṇa [SB 3.31.1]. According to his karma, he is going to get another body. These are the subtle laws. Therefore kula-kṣaya-doṣam. You cannot destroy your family. Materially, you cannot destroy your family. So Arjuna is speaking, kula-kṣayaṁ krtaṁ doṣaṁ prapasyadbhir janardana [Bg. 1.38]. "We can see. These rascals, they have lost their intelligence, but when we see, how we can destroy the family?" So further explanation will be given next.

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

kula-kṣaye praṇasyanti
kula-dharmaḥ; sanatanaḥ;
dharme naste kulaṁ krtsnam
adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta
[Bg. 1.39]

Translation: "With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligious practice."

Prabhupada: So, so much responsibility is there, killing the family. Because they have no responsibility at the present moment, everyone irreligious. Two things are there: religion and irreligion. Krṣṇa also says, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati abhyutthanam adharmasya [Bg. 4.7]. If we cannot keep on religious principles, then... We have to do something. Then we have to enhance our irreligious principle. So this family tradition, according to Vedic civilization, was very strictly observed so that the family may be kept in order in religious principles. Why? Now, because the human life is meant for reviving his eternal position, sanatana. This word is used here. Kula-dharmaḥ; sanatanaḥ;. The real purpose of life, especially human life, is meant for reviving our sanatana-dharma, sanatana occupation, eternal occupation. By observing the rules and regulations of varṇasrama-dharma, four varṇas and four asramas..., that is called kula-dharma. Brahmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. Each one of them must strictly observe the rules and regulations of that particular asrama. Why it should be observed so strictly? Because by observing the regulative principle of each stages of life, one will be able to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

varṇasramacarvata
puruṣeṇa paraḥ; puman
viṣṇur aradhyate (pantha)
nanyat tat-toṣa-karaṇam
[Cc. Madhya 8.58]

If we observe strictly the rules and regulations of kula-dharma... Kula-dharma means if you are a brahmaṇa, you must observe the regulative principles, the qualitative principles of a brahmaṇa. If you are in, a kṣatriya, then you must also observe the kṣatriya principles.

All these are described in the Bhagavad-gita, who is brahmaṇa, who is kṣatriya, by symptoms. By symptoms we have to accept whether one is brahmaṇa or kṣatriya or vaisya, not by birth. That is the injunction of the sastras. So this has to be observed. If we want actually deliverance from this material entanglement, so these rules and regulations of kula-dharma, we must observe. If we do not observe, then immediately we become irreligious. Dharme naṣṭe krtaṁ krtsnam adharmam abhibhavati iti uta. Uta, Arjuna said, "It is said." He has learned from higher authorities. Uta, "it is said" means "said by authorities." So "If adharma, irreligious life, is propagated, on account of loss of kula-dharma, then everything is lost, my dear Krṣṇa. So why shall I kill?" Other things also will be described later on, that the, when the male members are killed, the female members become widow, and they, their character becomes polluted. So many things Krṣṇa will speak about this family life.

So at the present moment, there is no such family life, no consideration of religion, no consideration of irreligious life. Everything, just like animals. Kalau sudra-sambhavaḥ;. If not animals, they are all sudras, nobody brahmaṇa, nobody kṣatriya, nobody vaisya. So it is a chaotic condition of the human society. Therefore it cannot be revived to the original position of systematic institutional position. It is not possible. Everything is lost. Therefore by the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace, one thing:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
(nasty eva) gatir anyatha.
[Cc. Adi 17.21]

Everything is lost. Now, simply by chanting harer nama, the holy name of Lord Krṣṇa, you become again situated in the original position. Everything is adjusted because it is transcendental. So there is no other way. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so merciful that from the sastras he has selected this process of saṅkirtana movement: ceto-darpaṇa-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. The human life is meant for extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. But we are not in regulative principles. We have lost everything, our sanatana-kula-dharma, everything. Under the circumstances, Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives us the greatest facility according to sastra. That is the boon of this age: kirtanad eva krṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ; paraṁ vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krṣṇa, everyone becomes free from all contamination of this age, mukta-saṅgaḥ;, paraṁ vrajet. And he becomes so purified that he becomes fit to go back to home, back to Godhead. So this opportunity, chanting of Hare Krṣṇa mantra, we should not miss. We should... We must. Where is the difficulty, Hare Krṣṇa chanting? Kirtaniyaḥ; sada hariḥ; [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Trṇad api sunicena taror api sahiṣṇuna. This is the only savior for the human society of this age.

Thank you very much. Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

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