Shloka 13
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण शमेन च दमेन च । त्यागेन सत्यशौचाभ्यां यमेन नियमेन वा ॥ १३ ॥ देहवाग्बुद्धिजं धीरा धर्मज्ञा: श्रद्धयान्विता: । क्षिपन्त्यघं महदपि वेणुगुल्ममिवानल: ॥ १४ ॥
tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca tyāgena satya-śaucābhyāṁ yamena niyamena vā
ਤਪ, ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਰਯ, ਸ਼ਮ, ਦਮ, ਤਿਆਗ, ਸਤ੍ਯ ਤੇ ਸ਼ੌਚ, ਯਮ-ਨਿਯਮ ਆਦਿ ਨਾਲ—ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਵਾਲਾ ਧਰਮ-ਜਾਣੂ ਧੀਰ ਪੁਰਖ ਦੇਹ, ਬਾਣੀ ਤੇ ਬੁੱਧੀ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਪਾਪ ਵੀ ਦੂਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਬਾਂਸ ਦੇ ਝੁਰਮੁੱਟ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਸੁੱਕੀਆਂ ਲਤਾਂ ਅੱਗ ਨਾਲ ਸੜ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ।
Tapaḥ is explained in the smṛti-śāstra as follows: manasaś cendriyāṇāṁ ca aikāgryaṁ paramaṁ tapaḥ. “Complete control of the mind and senses and their complete concentration on one kind of activity is called tapaḥ. ” Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is teaching people how to concentrate the mind on devotional service. This is first-class tapaḥ. Brahmacarya, the life of celibacy, has eight aspects: one should not think of women, speak about sex life, dally with women, look lustfully at women, talk intimately with women or decide to engage in sexual intercourse, nor should one endeavor for sex life or engage in sex life. One should not even think of women or look at them, to say nothing of talking with them. This is called first-class brahmacarya. If a brahmacārī or sannyāsī talks with a woman in a secluded place, naturally there will be a possibility of sex life without anyone’s knowledge. Therefore a complete brahmacārī practices just the opposite. If one is a perfect brahmacārī, he can very easily control the mind and senses, give charity, speak truthfully and so forth. To begin, however, one must control the tongue and the process of eating.
FAQs
In 6.1.13, Śukadeva explains that practices like tapas, brahmacarya, self-control, truthfulness, purity, and the disciplines of yama-niyama are traditional means for cleansing sinful reactions.
He is outlining the standard Vedic path of prāyaścitta (atonement) and self-discipline while discussing sin, punishment, and purification in the context of Ajamila’s fall and redemption.
Practice shama by calming the mind (reducing impulsive reactions) and dama by regulating senses (habits, speech, consumption), making daily life cleaner, more truthful, and spiritually focused.