Even if these do not see, Their minds overcome by greed, The fault (doṣa) caused by the destruction of the family (kula), And the crime (pātaka) in treachery to friends,
The greed that distorts their reason blinds them to the sin they commit in ruining the family, blinds them to the crime of betraying friends.
(38) And even if, bereft of sense by grief, they cannot see that to ruin a family is wickedness and to break one's word a crime,
1.38 -- 1.39 O Janārdana, although these people, whose hearts have become perverted by greed, do not see the evil arising from destroying the family and sin in hostility towards, friends, yet how can we who clearly see the evil arising from destroying the family remain unaware of (the need of) abstaining from this sin?
1.38 Though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of a clan and no sin in treachery to friends,
1.38. Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of families, and no sin in hostility to friends,