Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 26
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
भुञ्जान: प्रपिबन् खादन् बालकं स्नेहयन्त्रित: । भोजयन् पाययन् मूढो न वेदागतमन्तकम् ॥ २६ ॥
bhuñjānaḥ prapiban khādan bālakaṁ sneha-yantritaḥ bhojayan pāyayan mūḍho na vedāgatam antakam
Khi Ajamila nhai và ăn, vì bị trói buộc bởi tình thương, ông gọi đứa trẻ đến để nhai và ăn; khi uống, ông cũng gọi nó uống. Mải chăm sóc con và luôn gọi tên nó là “Nārāyaṇa”, Ajamila không hiểu rằng thời hạn đời mình đã cạn và tử thần đã kề bên.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is kind to the conditioned soul. Although this man completely forgot Nārāyaṇa, he was calling his child, saying, “Nārāyaṇa, please come eat this food. Nārāyaṇa, please come drink this milk.” Somehow or other, therefore, he was attached to the name Nārāyaṇa. This is called ajñāta-sukṛti. Although calling for his son, he was unknowingly chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa, and the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so transcendentally powerful that his chanting was being counted and recorded.
FAQs
This verse shows Ajāmila becoming so controlled by affection for his child that he goes on eating and serving the boy, unaware that death has already approached—warning that worldly attachment can blind one to life’s impermanence.
Because Ajāmila, overwhelmed by parental affection, fails to perceive the nearness of Antaka (death), illustrating how māyā covers discrimination and spiritual urgency.
Care for family responsibly, but cultivate daily remembrance of Bhagavān (nāma-japa, sādhana, and awareness of mortality) so that affection does not eclipse spiritual preparation.