Shloka 63
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
तन्निमित्तस्मरव्याजग्रहग्रस्तो विचेतन: । तामेव मनसा ध्यायन् स्वधर्माद्विरराम ह ॥ ६३ ॥
tan-nimitta-smara-vyāja- graha-grasto vicetanaḥ tām eva manasā dhyāyan sva-dharmād virarāma ha
ఆ కారణంగా స్మరణమనే గ్రహణానికి లోనై అతడు విచక్షణ కోల్పోయాడు; సూర్యచంద్రులు గ్రహణంలో కప్పబడినట్లే. మనసులో ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఆ వేశ్యనే ధ్యానిస్తూ, త్వరలోనే స్వధర్మాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టాడు.
By speaking this verse, Śukadeva Gosvāmī wants to impress upon the mind of the reader that Ajāmila’s exalted position as a brāhmaṇa was vanquished by his association with the prostitute, so much so that he forgot all his brahminical activities. Nevertheless, at the end of his life, by chanting the four syllables of the name Nārāyaṇa, he was saved from the gravest danger of falling down. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down from the exalted position of a brāhmaṇa through sexual indulgence, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. Therefore in Bhagavad-gītā it is advised that one not forget the chanting of the holy name even for a moment ( satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ ). There are so many dangers in this material world that one may fall down from an exalted position at any time. Yet if one keeps himself always pure and steady by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he will be safe without a doubt.
FAQs
This verse states that when one becomes overpowered by lust—so much that the mind constantly dwells on the object of desire—one loses discrimination and gives up one’s prescribed duties (sva-dharma).
Ajāmila became mentally obsessed with a woman; that obsessive remembrance acted like possession (“graha-grasta”), making him forget his higher values and stop following his brahminical dharma.
Guard the mind from repeated dwelling on temptation, redirect attention to dharmic routines and sādhana (hearing/chanting), and seek uplifting association so desire does not become an overpowering fixation.