अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः।।1.41।।
adharmābhibhavāt kṛiṣhṇa praduṣhyanti kula-striyaḥ strīṣhu duṣhṭāsu vārṣhṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
Translation
With the preponderance of vice, O Krishna, the women of the family become immoral; and from the immorality of women, O descendant of Vrishni, unwanted progeny are born.
Word Meanings
adharma — irreligion; abhibhavāt — preponderance; kṛiṣhṇa — Shree Krishna; praduṣhyanti — become immoral; kula-striyaḥ — women of the family; strīṣhu — of women; duṣhṭāsu — immorality; vārṣhṇeya — descendant of Vrishni; jāyate — are born; varṇa-saṅkaraḥ — unwanted progeny
Understanding the Verse
Women occupied a very high status in Vedic society. For families to be religious, and societies to be moral, it is necessary that their women be virtuous. According to the Manu Smṛiti: yatra nāryas tu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ (3.56) — “Societies where women are worshiped, for they are chaste and virtuous, the celestial gods are joyous.” Arjuna became concerned and started comprehending, “What would happen to the society in the absence of guidance and protection of elders? The women of the family may get misled.” Therefore, Arjuna said to Shree Krishna that if the women of the family turn towards immorality and commit adultery, they would bear illegitimate children. This would not only destroy the peace and happiness of future generations, but also deprive the ancestors of their Vedic rites. Family traditions will be abandoned, and the welfare of society will be at stake.
