The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair

Arjuna cites what he's heard from tradition: 'utsanna-kula-dharmāṇām'—those who destroy family dharma—'narake niyataṁ vāsaḥ'—dwell in hell. 'Anuśuśruma'—we have heard. This verse is powerful because Arjuna isn't just accepting tradition blindly. He's reasoned it out (previous verses): destroy dharma → chaos → breakdown → hell. Now he's noting: tradition warned about this too. Logic and wisdom agree. Modern insight: Not about literal afterlife hell, but present consequence. Destroy foundational wisdom—institutional, family, societal—and you create hell now. You live in chaos you created.