When unrighteousness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted; and when the women are corrupted, O descendant of Vrishni, a mixing of the social classes arises.
Explanation
Arjuna continues his argument for not fighting. He claims that when a family's traditions collapse and adharma (the opposite of dharma, right conduct) takes over, the women of the family become corrupted, and this leads to a blurring of the social classes (varṇasaṅkara). The reasoning reflects the social assumptions of his time. Readers and commentators differ on how literally to take it, but it is Arjuna's own claim here, not Krishna's.