adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
"When adharma prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted. When women are corrupted, O descendant of Vrishni, unwanted progeny arise."
What This Means:
Arjuna continues his social argument: without dharma, women are vulnerable to corruption, leading to 'mixed' progeny. This reflects the social concerns of his era about family lineage and order.
Going Deeper:
While this verse reflects ancient social structures, the underlying concern is real: war creates chaos that victimizes the vulnerable. The breakdown of social order during conflict has consequences for generations.
How To Apply This:
War and social chaos disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. When considering conflict, consider who will suffer most in the breakdown of order—often those with least power.
Key Sanskrit Terms: