Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 43 (BG 1.43) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

The meaning of the commentary on the previous verse becomes even clearer through Arjuna's words here. As we have seen, dharma signifies the Indian spiritual culture, the training in which was imparted from the very beginning in every household. Arjuna's fear that this fratricidal war will destroy the dharma of the clans and the dharma of the family is a matter of common knowledge. It is well known that after every war, moral and cultural values in society suddenly undergo grave decline. The present age, suffocating beneath the weight of unethical conduct and deceitful tendencies, stands as a vivid example of the aforementioned truth. After war, not only does the number of the disabled and infirm increase, but even more terrible consequences emerge in the form of grave psychological distortions of the mind. In these verses, we find Arjuna as the first war-opponent in the world. In these passages, he presents to lovers of peace a beautiful chain of timeless arguments.