Shloka 66
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
यतस्ततश्चोपनिन्ये न्यायतोऽन्यायतो धनम् । बभारास्या: कुटुम्बिन्या: कुटुम्बं मन्दधीरयम् ॥ ६६ ॥
yatas tataś copaninye nyāyato ’nyāyato dhanam babhārāsyāḥ kuṭumbinyāḥ kuṭumbaṁ manda-dhīr ayam
Bien que né dans une famille de brāhmaṇas, par la fréquentation d’une prostituée il devint sans discernement. Par des moyens justes ou injustes, il amassa de l’argent et entretint la femme et ses fils et filles.
FAQs
This verse describes Ajāmila collecting wealth both lawfully and unlawfully, showing how loss of dharma leads one to compromise ethics for maintenance and attachment.
In the narrative, Ajāmila becomes attached to a prostitute/immoral companion and, out of delusion, supports her household—illustrating how illicit association pulls one into deeper responsibility and sin.
Choose honest livelihood and guard against destructive attachments; unethical income and misplaced responsibility may temporarily sustain life but steadily erode character, peace, and spiritual progress.