Sanskrit
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन । नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥
utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatīty anuśuśruma
Translation
The abode of the men whose family customs are extinguished, O Janârdana, is everlastingly in hell. Thus have we heard.
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
The social-consequences argument reaches its conclusion, but Arjuna marks his source carefully: “anuśuśruma,” we have heard — this is received teaching he’s citing, not a claim he asserts from his own certainty. That small qualification matters; even at his most emphatic, Arjuna is arguing from tradition, not direct conviction.
Study deeper
Word by word
- utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṃउत्सन्न-कुल-धर्माणां
- whose family duties have been destroyed
- manuṣyāṇāṃमनुष्याणां
- for the men
- janārdanaजनार्दन
- O Janārdana
- narakeनरके
- in hell
- niyataṃ vāsoनियतं वासो
- a fixed dwelling
- bhavatītyभवतीत्य्
- comes to be
- anuśuśrumaअनुशुश्रुम
- so we have heard
Commentary
Site Commentary
This is the loudest claim in Arjuna’s entire speech — eternal hell — and also the most carefully hedged: “anuśuśruma,” thus have we heard. He doesn’t claim this from his own direct certainty, only cites it as received teaching. Notice the inverse relationship: the bigger the claim, the more Arjuna leans on tradition rather than his own conviction to carry it.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- When you're making your biggest, most severe claim in an argument — with yourself or someone else — notice whether you actually believe it firsthand or are leaning on something you were taught. It's fine to cite the source, but know which one you're doing.
Professional
- When you cite a severe consequence to justify a decision, be honest about whether it's your own direct assessment or something you're repeating from convention or precedent — the distinction matters for how much weight the claim should carry.
Family & Social
- When you invoke a serious consequence to make a point in a family disagreement, be clear about whether it's your own conviction or something you were taught to believe — naming the difference keeps the conversation honest.
Ask yourself
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