Chapter 1 • Verse 43
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥
doṣhair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāśh cha śhāśhvatāḥ
Meaning
By the misdeeds of those who destroy the family and create social confusion, the eternal community and family traditions are destroyed.
Arjuna fears the loss of tradition. Yet clinging to traditions that protect adharma is itself a violation of the deeper purpose those traditions were meant to serve.
Strength Reflection
"I honor the spirit of traditions, not their letter, when the two come into conflict."
Devotional Surrender
O Krishna, help me distinguish between essence and form in all the traditions I hold dear.