Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 23
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
एवं निवसतस्तस्य लालयानस्य तत्सुतान् । कालोऽत्यगान्महान् राजन्नष्टाशीत्यायुष: समा: ॥ २३ ॥
evaṁ nivasatas tasya lālayānasya tat-sutān kālo ’tyagān mahān rājann aṣṭāśītyāyuṣaḥ samāḥ
Oh Rey, viviendo así y mimando a sus hijos, él gastó su tiempo en actos abominables y pecaminosos. De ese modo transcurrieron ochenta y ocho años de su vida.
FAQs
This verse states that while Ajāmila remained absorbed in pampering his sons, a large portion of his life—eighty-eight years—passed, showing how attachment can consume one’s time and awareness.
Śukadeva highlights Ajāmila’s prolonged absorption in family indulgence to set the moral context of the Ajāmila episode—how negligence of dharma over many years leads to spiritual downfall and later crisis.
It advises balancing family duties with daily spiritual practice—remembering that time quickly passes, so one should cultivate bhakti and dharma alongside responsible household life.