Chapter I · Śloka 42
Arjuna uvāca
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः |
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||
doṣair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṃ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ |
utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ ||
utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ ||
Through these evil deeds of the destroyers of families, which cause unwanted population, the eternal customs of the community and the family are ruined.
The word śāśvatāḥ — eternal — is pointed. Arjuna believes he is defending the timeless order. The irony is that this battle was made necessary precisely because the Kauravas already violated those eternal customs when they cheated in dice and dishonored Draupadi.