Verse : 41
Adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ
Strīṣu duṣṭāsu vāṛṣṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ ||41||
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- Adharma-abhibhavāt — Due to the dominance of irreligion / unrighteousness
- Kṛṣṇa — O Krishna (a direct address)
- Praduṣyanti — Become corrupted / degraded
- Kula-striyaḥ — Women of the family / noble household women
- Strīṣu — In women
- Duṣṭāsu — When corrupted / degraded
- Vārṣṇeya — O descendant of the Vrishni clan (another name for Krishna)
- Jāyate — Is born / arises
- Varṇa-saṅkaraḥ — Unwanted progeny / intermixture of castes or social confusion
O Krishna, when unrighteousness prevails, the women of the family become corrupt. When women are degraded, O Vārṣṇeya, social confusion arises in the form of varṇa-saṅkara (unwanted or mixed progeny).
Expanded Meaning:
In this verse, Arjuna continues describing the far-reaching social consequences of war. He expresses concern over how adharma (unrighteousness) not only affects warriors but has a devastating impact on the women of society, which then disrupts social order and lineage.
Arjuna fears that the collapse of dharma leads to moral corruption, and this particularly affects the women of noble families, who traditionally upheld values, culture, and social continuity.
Contextual Analysis:
1. “Adharmābhibhavāt” — When Dharma Fails, Chaos Rises
- Arjuna warns that when adharma becomes dominant, the pillars of society, including moral conduct, protection, and family responsibility, start to decay.
- Without dharma as the guiding principle, protection for women weakens, making them more vulnerable to social and emotional harm.
2. “Praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ” — The Degradation of Women
- “Kula-striyaḥ” refers to women of respected and noble families.
- Arjuna sees these women as keepers of family values, culture, and lineage.
- When dharma collapses, women lose their support systems — brothers, fathers, husbands — and become socially endangered.
- “Praduṣyanti” (get corrupted) implies exposure to dishonor, exploitation, and loss of dignity.
This degradation is not a personal attack on women but a lament for the collapse of social ethics and protection.
3. “Strīṣu duṣṭāsu jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ” — Social Confusion Arises
- When women are harmed or corrupted, the lineage becomes confused.
- “Varṇa-saṅkaraḥ” literally means “mixing of social orders” — traditionally interpreted as intermixing of castes or the collapse of social distinction.
- In essence, Arjuna is worried that ethical, spiritual, and social structures will fall into chaos, resulting in cultural deterioration and confusion of duties (varna-dharma).
This verse reflects how ancient society linked lineage purity with societal stability.
Philosophical Interpretation:
1. The Feminine as the Cultural Bearer
- Arjuna sees women as vessels of dharma, tradition, and grace.
- Their well-being directly reflects the health of the culture.
- When women suffer or are dishonored, it’s a sign that society is morally diseased.
2. The Chain of Dharma Collapse
- War ➝ Death ➝ Collapse of Protection ➝ Suffering of Women ➝ Social Disorder ➝ Birth of Confusion.
- This is not about literal casteism, but a symbolic representation of loss of identity, values, and dharmic clarity.
3. Symbolism of Varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
- Not just about birth, but about ethical and psychological confusion:
- Children born without stable family values
- Loss of purpose or clear social roles
- Lack of moral clarity in future generations
Spiritual Symbolism:
| Symbol | Represents |
|---|---|
| Adharma | Moral negligence, ego, violence, or apathy |
| Kula-striyaḥ | Inner sensitivity, nurturing force, sacred values |
| Praduṣyanti | Corruption of spiritual integrity |
| Varṇa-saṅkaraḥ | Confused identity, loss of inner order, psychological imbalance |
| War | Internal conflict where ego overrides compassion and wisdom |
Modern-Day Relevance:
- When ethical values decline in any society, it is often the vulnerable—especially women and children—who suffer the most.
- This verse is a reminder to protect and honor the sacred role of women in nurturing, sustaining, and transmitting dharma.
- In the chaos of modernity and war-like situations (even metaphorical wars in the mind), the loss of clarity and purity can lead to confused identities and disoriented youth.
Reflection Questions:
In your own family or culture, who are the protectors and preservers of dharma?
When social support systems break down, how can we ensure that the vulnerable are not dishonored or forgotten?
What is the modern equivalent of “varṇa-saṅkaraḥ”? Could it be a confused generation, loss of purpose, or a broken value system?
How can men and women work together to uphold the balance of dharma in turbulent times?
Conclusion:
Arjuna’s words are not simply traditionalist or conservative — they are deeply compassionate and rooted in spiritual insight. He sees war not just as a physical conflict but as a moral and societal disintegration. His concern for the welfare of women is rooted in the recognition that they are guardians of cultural continuity and ethical purity.
This verse calls on all of us — not just warriors — to protect, preserve, and promote dharma, especially through respect for the feminine and the future generation.