1.43. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, the eternal religious rites of the caste and the family are destroyed.

1.35 1.44 Nihatya etc. upto anususruma. Sin alone is the agent in the act of slaying these desperadoes. Therefore here the idea is this : These ememies of ours have been slain, i.e., have been take possession of, by sin. Sin would come to us also after slaying them. Sin in this context is the disregard, on account of greed etc., to the injurious conseences like the ruination of the family and the like. That is why Arjuna makes a specific mention of the [ruin of the] family etc., and of its duties in the passage 'How by slaying my own kinsmen etc'. The act of slaying, undertaken with an individualizing idea about its result, and with a particularizing idea about the person to be slain, is a great sin. To say this very thing precisely and to indicate the intensity of his own agony, Arjuna says only to himself [see next sloka]:

**Translation:** By these faults that produce mixed castes, the eternal family duties and caste duties of the destroyers of the family are destroyed. **Commentary:** Explanation—'By these faults of the destroyers of the family... the eternal family duties...'—When the family is destroyed in war, the family duties that have come down with the family are also destroyed. With the destruction of family duties, unrighteousness increases in the family. With the increase of unrighteousness, women become corrupted. When women are corrupted, mixed castes are produced. Thus, by these faults that produce mixed castes, the caste duties (varna-dharma) of those who destroy the family are destroyed. What are family duties and caste duties? In one caste, the distinct traditions, distinct codes of conduct, and distinct practices of a particular family are all called its 'family duties.' The duties prescribed for the entire community of families belonging to one caste, which are general duties and ordained by scriptural injunction, are all called caste duties, i.e., varna-dharma. When these family duties and caste duties are not practiced, these dharmas are destroyed.