Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 61
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
दृष्ट्वा तां कामलिप्तेन बाहुना परिरम्भिताम् । जगाम हृच्छयवशं सहसैव विमोहित: ॥ ६१ ॥
dṛṣṭvā tāṁ kāma-liptena bāhunā parirambhitām jagāma hṛc-chaya-vaśaṁ sahasaiva vimohitaḥ
May bisig na pinahiran ng luyang-dilaw, niyakap ng śūdra ang patutot. Nang makita iyon ni Ajāmila, nagising ang natutulog na pagnanasa sa kanyang puso at sa pagkalito ay napasailalim siya rito.
It is said that if one’s body is smeared with turmeric, it attracts the lusty desires of the opposite sex. The word kāma-liptena indicates that the śūdra was decorated with turmeric smeared on his body.
FAQs
This verse shows lust can be triggered simply by seeing a sensual scene; the mind becomes seized by desire arising in the heart, leading quickly to bewilderment.
Because his heart was captured by kāma; the verse stresses that once desire takes control, discrimination is lost and delusion follows immediately.
Guard the eyes and mind by avoiding degrading association and imagery, and redirect attention to devotional practices that purify desire rather than inflame it.