Bhagavad Gita 1.41 · Arjuna
An old fear, spoken aloud
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः॥
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥstrīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ
When disorder takes over, Krishna, the women of the family lose their way, and the social order becomes mixed.
Words
- varṇa
What it means
Arjuna voices a fear common in his ancient world. If families collapse, women will be left unprotected and traditions will blur, including varna, the old social order. It's important to be clear. This is Arjuna speaking in panic. Krishna never agrees with this reasoning.
The story
Many readers find this verse uncomfortable, and that's fair. The Gita records Arjuna's whole argument honestly, including the parts shaped by the anxieties of his age. Then it answers him. Not one of Krishna's replies blames women or warns of mixing.
In your life
Think of someone in a family crisis repeating something a strict grandparent once said, about how things fall apart. Notice when fear makes us borrow old voices. Ask, do I actually believe this, or am I just afraid?
Fear borrows old voices. Listen carefully.