Shloka 52
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
देह्यज्ञोऽजितषड्वर्गो नेच्छन्कर्माणि कार्यते । कोशकार इवात्मानं कर्मणाच्छाद्य मुह्यति ॥ ५२ ॥
dehy ajño ’jita-ṣaḍ-vargo necchan karmāṇi kāryate kośakāra ivātmānaṁ karmaṇācchādya muhyati
ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਦੇਹਧਾਰੀ, ਛੇ ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਿੱਤ ਨਾ ਸਕਣ ਕਰਕੇ, ਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਵੀ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਨਾਲ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਮਜਬੂਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਰੇਸ਼ਮੀ ਕੀੜੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਰਮ-ਜਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਢੱਕ ਕੇ ਮੋਹਿਤ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
As already explained, the influence of the modes of nature is very strong. The living entity entangled in different types of fruitive activity is like a silkworm trapped in a cocoon. Getting free is very difficult unless he is helped by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse explains that an ignorant embodied soul, unable to control the senses, is driven to act even unwillingly, and then becomes further bound and confused by the karma created.
Because, like a silkworm that spins its own cocoon and gets trapped, a person weaves bondage through repeated karmic actions and becomes covered by their results.
Regularly restraining impulsive sense-driven habits and redirecting the mind toward devotion and disciplined living helps one avoid creating new karmic entanglement.