Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 2
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणश्चैव त्रैगुण्यविषयो मुने । योऽसावलीनप्रकृतेर्गुणसर्ग: पुन: पुन: ॥ २ ॥
pravṛtti-lakṣaṇaś caiva traiguṇya-viṣayo mune yo ’sāv alīna-prakṛter guṇa-sargaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
O sage, the pravṛtti-mārga is characterized by involvement with the three modes of nature. So long as the living being remains absorbed in material prakṛti, the creation of bodies by the guṇas occurs again and again; he accepts various bodies to enjoy or suffer and, following their inclinations, travels the path of pravṛtti.
As Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25) :
FAQs
This verse states that pravritti—materially motivated engagement—moves within the three gunas and repeatedly expresses their influence, keeping the conditioned soul within cyclical material patterns.
In the opening of the Ajamila episode, Śukadeva frames how sinful and pious actions arise from material modes, setting the philosophical basis for discussing bondage, atonement, and the power of devotion.
Notice how choices are pulled by goodness, passion, or ignorance, and deliberately shift from mode-driven habits toward sādhana and devotion—so actions become less binding and more spiritually directed.