Chapter 1 Shloka 44

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।

नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम।।४४।।

Arjuna says to Lord Krishna:

O Janardhana!

Those whose families have been thus destroyed,

reside in hell for an unending period;

this is what I have heard.

Chapter 1 Shloka 44

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।

नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम।।४४।।

Arjuna says to Lord Krishna:

O Janardhana! Those whose families have been thus destroyed, reside in hell for an unending period; this is what I have heard.

It is true that a family which has lost its traditional values and dharma will remain in hell for an unending period of time. Such a family will be imbued with evil qualities because it will be bereft of its code of dutiful conduct, familial traditions and the opportunity to serve its elders. Nor will it have any duties even towards its children.

1. He who has never done any duty will always act in a manner opposed to duty.

2. He who never serves becomes devoid of compassion.

3. He who gives no respect to his elders is virtually an orphan.

4. The life of one who lives only for himself, his very life becomes useless.

5. The arrogance and pride of such a one is ever on the increase.

6. He wants others to serve him but will never serve others.

7. He is ever striving for desire fulfilment – he is unjust and will be prone to temper.

8. Such people are augmenters of sin and destroyers of dharma; ever tormenting others, they would naturally incur the torments of hell.

9. Having no love within themselves they will only get a world bereft of love.

10. Evil begets evil. Sinful deeds beget sinful deeds in return. One who is merciless can deserve no mercy. He who has always deceived will receive deceit as a just recompense. He who has sown hatred will inevitably be hated by the whole world.

One reaps life after life what one has sown. One may have to live many lives to exhaust the fruit of sins committed in one life.

a) Ill luck is the outcome of evil actions.

b) Unhappiness is the result of evil actions.

c) One’s own destruction is the consequence of evil actions.

Hell exists here, in life:

1. Those stricken with sorrow, the crippled and the disabled are in various forms of hell.

2. To die of pain, hunger and thirst is a form of hell.

3. To watch one’s loved ones suffer or to live in separation from one’s loved ones is a form of hell.

4. What could be a greater hell than rejection by the whole world and to live a life of loneliness, humiliation or adversity?

What you give to others, you will receive. What you wish for others, you will attain yourself.

The seeds and the fruits of action

What you do for yourself becomes tainted and sinful. What you do for others becomes a seed of virtue. Thoughts contained in your mind will inevitably bear fruit. What you believe to be true will take on physical form. Whatever you deem as justice for another, will be  meted out to you. Whatever deed you performed and justified as correct and righteous, you will receive that same treatment from others.

An example

If you hit another and justify your action as correct, then why writhe if you are hit by someone else?

Another example

If you torture someone and grudge him even his food, calling yourself a ‘business genius’, remember that one day you, too, shall reap the fruit of your actions and suffer pangs of hunger. Your children will suffer and die before your very eyes. You will suffer the same hell that you made for others. This is the law of life. This is the wheel of reincarnation – of life and death.

Little one! If you sow an inferior seed, the harvest will naturally be poor. If your life is filled with the seeds of evil doings, cruelty and nefarious acts, you will get only hell in return.

So be careful; know yourself as you are today! Realise the consequences of your deeds and words on the lives of others.

1. Know your habit patterns.

2. Know your actions.

3. Are you really the sort of person you think you are?

4. If you consider yourself to be of a superior calibre, make sure that you are not deluding yourself!

5. If you know yourself to be sincere, weigh yourself objectively.

Self evaluation

1. If you do not recognise your duty,

2. If you cannot serve your elders,

3. If you are not afraid of telling lies,

4. If you consider yourself to be the most intelligent,

5. If you are quick to react in a temper,

6. If compassion is not your natural trait,

7. If you are sensitive only to your own pleasures and not to the wishes of others,

8. If you consider as good only that person who supports you,

9. If you do not know how to forgive,

10. If you cannot forget enmities,

then how can you consider yourself to be a superior human being? According to this evaluation, you can judge if you are a superior being or quite debased!

Actions of the asadhu or one who has fallen from virtue.

As a consequence of the above attitudes:

1. Your desire for revenge will be intense.

2. You may think nothing of damaging the honour of another.

3. You may be quite a merciless person.

4. You may be instigating others against those with whom you bear enmity.

5. You may be using all means, true and untrue, to establish yourself.

6. You may be endeavouring to build your own reputation by tarnishing another.

7. You may have been instrumental in destroying many a home and the peace and unity of many a family with your negative attitudes.

Imagine how many lives it will take you to reap the fruits of all these sinful acts. These seeds will continue to sprout endlessly.

Little one, that is why one says, if even a single varna sankar enters one’s home, such a one will inevitably lead to the downfall of the family. If such a ‘destroyer’ is born in a family, it will definitely lead to the obliteration of that community and the entire race. If one sinner can create such devastation, what will become of a community where the majority consists of such sinners?

That will be the advent of Kaliyuga which will resemble hell.