In Bhagavad Gita 1.41, Arjuna argues that when lawlessness prevails, the women of the family are corrupted, and from this arises confusion of the social order.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण
प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय
जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ १-४१ ॥
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa
praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya
jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ
English transliteration adharmaabhibhavaatkrishna
pradushyanti kulastriyah
streeshu dushtaasu vaarshneya
jaayate varnasankarah ॥ 1.41 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When lawlessness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and when the women are corrupted, O descendant of Vrishni, there arises confusion of the social order.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अधर्माभिभवात् adharmābhibhavāt | from the prevalence of lawlessness adharma (unrighteousness) + abhibhavāt (from domination) |
| कृष्ण kṛṣṇa | O Kṛṣṇa |
| प्रदुष्यन्ति praduṣyanti | become corrupt |
| कुलस्त्रियः kulastriyaḥ | the women of the family kula (family) + striyaḥ (women) |
| स्त्रीषु strīṣu | when the women |
| दुष्टासु duṣṭāsu | are corrupted |
| वार्ष्णेय vārṣṇeya | O descendant of Vṛṣṇi (Kṛṣṇa) |
| जायते jāyate | arises |
| वर्णसङ्करः varṇasaṅkaraḥ | confusion of the social order varṇa (social order) + saṅkaraḥ (mixing, confusion) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–dhar–mā–bhi–bha–vāt–kṛṣ–ṇa 8 syllables a-dhar-maa-bhi-bha-vaat-krish-na
- pra–duṣ–yan–ti ku–las–tri–yaḥ | 8 syllables pra-dush-yan-ti ku-las-tri-yah
- strī–ṣu duṣ–ṭā–su vār–ṣṇe–ya 8 syllables stree-shu dush-taa-su vaar-shne-ya
- jā–ya–te var–ṇa–saṅ–ka–raḥ || 1-41 8 syllables jaa-ya-te var-na-san-ka-rah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 41
Context
Arjuna continues his chain of social consequences from 1.40.
Meaning
Arjuna’s argument reflects the social thinking of his time, in which the stability of the family line and its customs was closely tied to the conduct of its members. He fears that war, by killing the men who protect the family, would leave the household without protection and lead to disorder, which he calls varṇasaṅkara, the confusion of social roles.
It is important to read this verse as Arjuna’s reasoning in grief, not as Krishna’s teaching. Krishna will not endorse these fears; he will set them aside as arising from confusion (2.2–2.3). The verse shows how a troubled mind gathers every available argument, even inherited social anxieties, to justify a decision already made by emotion.
In Practice
When you are building a case for a decision, notice whether your arguments come from careful thought or from fears you have absorbed. Test one of them honestly.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.