Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 54
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
लब्ध्वा निमित्तमव्यक्तं व्यक्ताव्यक्तं भवत्युत । यथायोनि यथाबीजं स्वभावेन बलीयसा ॥ ५४ ॥
labdhvā nimittam avyaktaṁ vyaktāvyaktaṁ bhavaty uta yathā-yoni yathā-bījaṁ svabhāvena balīyasā
جب غیر مرئی سبب (اَوْیَکت نِمِتّ) ملتا ہے تو کرم کا پھل ظاہر ہوتا ہے۔ طاقتور سُبھاؤ اور بیج کے مطابق جیو یَتھایونی جنم لیتا ہے؛ خواہش کے مطابق سُتھول اور لطیف جسم بنتے ہیں۔
The gross body is a product of the subtle body. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (8.6) :
FAQs
This verse says birth occurs according to the specific womb and “seed” (karmic cause/impressions), propelled by a powerful acquired nature (svabhāva) shaped by past actions.
To clarify that karmic impulses operate subtly (unmanifest) and then produce visible results (manifest birth and circumstances), helping explain how Ajāmila’s past conditioning led to his situation.
It encourages conscious habit-building: repeated actions create deep conditioning that later “manifests” as character and destiny, so cultivating sādhana, good company, and devotion reshapes svabhāva.