Having established that the destruction of the family leads to the rise of irreligion, Arjuna now explains the immediate and devastating social consequence of this chaos. The forty-first verse, known as the Adharmabhibhavat Krishna verse, is a stark and deeply traditional argument about the central role of women in maintaining the purity and order of a society.
Sanskrit Verse
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ४१ ॥Transliteration
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ |
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ || 41 ||Word for Word Translation
adharma – of irreligion; abhibhavāt – from the predominance; kṛṣṇa – O Krishna; praduṣyanti – become polluted; kula-striyaḥ – the women of the family; strīṣu duṣṭāsu – with the womanhood being corrupted; vārṣṇeya – O descendant of Vrishni; jāyate – comes into being; varṇa-saṅkaraḥ – unwanted progeny.
English Translation
O Krishna, when irreligion is prominent in the family, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrishni, comes unwanted progeny.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This powerful statement is the next logical step in Arjuna’s sociological argument. He is explaining how the breakdown of `Dharma` specifically leads to societal chaos.
- “The women of the family become polluted”: From Arjuna’s traditional `kshatriya` perspective, women were seen as the anchor of a family’s piety and purity. With the elders and protectors of the family killed in war, he argues that the women are left vulnerable. Without the guiding structure of `kula-dharma`, they lose their moral compass, and the family’s honor is compromised.
- “Comes unwanted progeny (varṇa-saṅkaraḥ)”: This is the ultimate fear for a traditional Vedic society. `Varṇa-saṅkaraḥ` refers to the mixing of the different social orders or castes (varnas). In Arjuna’s worldview, a stable society depends on people performing their prescribed duties. The birth of children from unregulated unions leads to a generation with no clear social or spiritual identity, destroying the rituals and traditions that ensure the family’s and the ancestors’ well-being.
By addressing Krishna as “Varshneya” (descendant of the Vrishni clan), Arjuna is appealing to their shared noble lineage. He is essentially saying, “You, who come from a great and pure family, must understand the horror of this impending social chaos.”
Conclusion
Arjuna’s argument here provides a window into the ancient social worldview. While modern perspectives on the role of women are very different, the core of Arjuna’s fear is about the breakdown of social stability. He believes that when the moral and ethical structures that protect a society collapse, the consequences are catastrophic, leading to a loss of identity and purpose for future generations. His concern is not born of a lack of respect for women, but from a view that holds them as the sacred center of the family’s spiritual life.
This verse challenges us to think about the foundations of our own societies. What are the “eternal traditions” that provide stability and moral guidance? What happens to a community when these are lost? Arjuna’s lament is a powerful reminder that the consequences of great conflicts are never just political; they are deeply social and can echo for generations to come.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 42 – Sankaro Narakayaiva
