Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:41 II

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II 1:41 II

 

adharmabhibhavaat Krishna, pradusyanti kula-striyah

strishu dushtaasu vaarsneya, jaayate varna-sankarah (Gita 1:41)

 

When impiety prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become

unchaste; with their degradation, O Varshneya, (descendent of

Vrsni), varna (caste) mixture ensues.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 15 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 41 is as follows;

 

Adharma = impiety

Abhibhavaat = from the prevalence of

Krishna = O Krishna!

Pradushyanti = become corrupt

KulastriyaH = the women of the family

StreeShu = in women

DuShtaasu = being corrupt

VaarShneya = O Krishna! (One who is born in VrushNi clan of Yadavaas

the Kshatriyaas)

Jaayate = arises

VarnasankaraH = caste admixture

 

English translation:-

 

With the prevalence of impiety and lawlessness, O Krishna, the women

of the family become unchaste; and when women are corrupted, O

Krishna, there arises intermingling of castes.

 

Varna in Sanskrit language means colour. Lord Krishna was well-known

for his distinctive `Tapta Taamra Varna' i.e. dark blue colour of

element of copper, near its melting point.

 

The present " caste system " with lapse of time has degenerated from

the original " Varna " Ashramas and have lost the original spirit

almost to the point where Varna and caste system are difficult to

compare in today's setting. The Varnas were for the smooth

functioning of the society. The present caste system does not carry

the same respect or significance as the Varna did. (GT Moderator

addition/modification)

 

All the varnas were considered equally important, no one particular

Varna was considered higher than the other because they all are

needed to have the society function properly. Just like the limbs of

the body, all limbs are needed for the body to function properly in

a healthy manner. Therefore, equal respect was given to all the

Varnas. As a rule, all the things God creates they are done always

without any " bhed bhava " or distinction, but anything man creates

has the " bhed bhava, " the me and mine etc.

(GT Moderator addition/modification)

 

In the verse 13 of chapter 4, Lord Krishna himself has said

that, " The fourfold system of varnas (BrahmaNa, Kshatriya, Vaishya

and Shudra) was created by Me by different distributions (by

permutations and combinations) of Guna (Sattva, Rajasa and Tama) and

Karma (action with desires, prohibited action and action without

desires). Though I am its author, know Me to be a non-doer and

immutable " .

 

The usage of the word `VaarShNeya' is indeed appropriate in this

verse. Arjuna indirectly asks Lord Krishna, " Will you ever tolerate

admixture of castes in your own clan of VrushNi? If not, then why

are you encouraging me to participate in such horrific crimes in the

course of the impending battle and ultimately become responsible for

the sin of intermixture of various castes? Is this a creative

process or a destructive one? "

 

During their 13 years of exile, the Pandavaas had meticulously

planned for the eventual royal battle with the Kauravaas which

represented the tyrannical rule based on supreme attitude of

unrighteousness. For virtue to prevail over vice, Arjuna had

solemnly pledged to annihilate all those forces that represented

viciousness.

 

Now at the very outset of the impending epic battle, Arjuna seems to

have completely forgotten his solemn pledge. He is advocating to

Lord Krishna that waging a war will result into creation and not

elimination of unrighteousness. This is indeed `Vinaasha Kaale,

Vipareeta Buddhi' i.e. before the time of complete destruction, the

human intellect is completely mis-directed by the six enemies of man

called as Kaama (desires), Krodha (anger), Lobha (expectations),

Moha (attractions), Mada (pride with arrogance) and Matsara

hatred).

 

Arjuna was driven by Moha i.e. undue worries about the well-beings

of his kith and kin, in total disregard to his obligatory duties

towards the great nation of `Bhaarata-Varsha'.

 

Arjuna's argument that the royal battle will be the cause of

intermingling of varnas is indeed ludicrous one. In fact the royal

battle was encouraged by Arjuna's mother Kunti and wife Draupadi to

reconstruct the very pathetic state of affairs in the then

prevailing society and bring about a change and harmony in the

comity of nations.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

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Shree Hari

Ram Ram

Thank you Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to support

this divine work and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram