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?"

The one excuse is that every one of us, we are indebted to devarsi, 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. Varuna. Deva. So we are indebted to so many demigods. Similarly, we are indebted to the rsis. Just like Vyasadeva. He has given us this Vedic literature. We are taking advantage of it. So we must feel indebted. Deva rsi, rsi. First of all, we are indebted to the devatas, and then to the rsis, 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. Devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam [SB 11.5.41]. And pitrnam, these pitr, kula-ksaya, 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-ksaya-krtam dosam 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, katham na jneyam asmabhih [Bg. 1.38]. Plural number: "By us." "Us" means including Krsna. He is saying not "I" or "by me." He is including Krsna: "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 Krsna. And Krsna is there. He is committing such sinful activities.' " Therefore he says, katham na jneyam asmabhih. He is dragging Krsna 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-cetasah. Upahata-cetasah. 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. Katham na jneyam asmabhih papad asman nivartitum [Bg. 1.38]. They may indulge in these sinful activities, how we can indulge? What people will say? Kula-ksaya-krtam dosam 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-ksaya. So we cannot destroy family. But on one condition we can become free from all this obligation. What is that? Gatah sarabyam parihrtya kartum [SB 11.5.41]. Saranyam. Mukunda-caranam. One who has dedicated his life simply to serve Mukunda, Krsna, Mukunda. Muk means mukti, liberation. And ananda. Krsna gives liberation, His name is Govinda, Mukunda. Hundreds and thousands of names Krsna has got. So if one has taken, fully surrendering unto the lotus feet of Mukunda, he has no more any obligation, either these pitr, devarsi, deva, devata, demigod, rsi, 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. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everything is noted down. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. According to his karma, he is going to get another body. These are the subtle laws. Therefore kula-ksaya-dosam. You cannot destroy your family. Materially, you cannot destroy your family. So Arjuna is speaking, kula-ksayam krtam dosam 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.

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

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

Everything is lost. Now, simply by chanting harer nama, the holy name of Lord Krsna, 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 sankirtana movement: ceto-darpana-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 krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna, everyone becomes free from all contamination of this age, mukta-sangah, param vrajet. And he becomes so purified that he becomes fit to go back to home, back to Godhead. So this opportunity, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, we should not miss. We should... We must. Where is the difficulty, Hare Krsna chanting? Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. This is the only savior for the human society of this age.