Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 65

Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

विप्रां स्वभार्यामप्रौढां कुले महति लम्भिताम् । विससर्जाचिरात्पाप: स्वैरिण्यापाङ्गविद्धधी: ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

viprāṁ sva-bhāryām aprauḍhāṁ kule mahati lambhitām visasarjācirāt pāpaḥ svairiṇyāpāṅga-viddha-dhīḥ

Translation

Vì trí tuệ bị mũi tên của ánh nhìn dục vọng từ cô kỹ nữ đâm trúng, bà-la-môn Ajāmila đáng thương đã sa vào tội lỗi trong sự giao du với nàng. Chẳng bao lâu ông còn bỏ rơi người vợ trẻ tuyệt đẹp, xuất thân từ gia tộc bà-la-môn danh giá.

Synonyms

• विप्राम्: the brāhmaṇa woman
• विप्राम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘a brāhmaṇa woman’

• स्व-भार्याम्: his own wife
• स्व-भार्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य भार्या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to ‘विप्राम्’

• अप्रौढाम्: not mature/young
• अप्रौढाम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रौढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्यय (negated adjective); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies wife

• कुले: in a family
• कुले: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in a family’

• महति: great/noble
• महति: अधिकरण (Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; qualifies ‘कुले’

• लम्भिताम्: obtained (as wife)
• लम्भिताम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोज्य + क्त (PPP) ‘caused to be obtained/received’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies wife (‘obtained in a great family’)

• विससर्ज: he abandoned
• विससर्ज: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘abandoned/let go’

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: काल (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक adverb; ‘soon/after not long’)

• पापः: the sinful man
• पापः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; substantive adjective referring to the man

• स्वैरिण्या: by a wanton woman
• स्वैरिण्या: करण (Karana/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वैरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘by a wanton woman’

• अपाङ्ग-विद्ध-धीः: whose mind was pierced by her sidelong glance
• अपाङ्ग-विद्ध-धीः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्ध (कृदन्त, √व्यध्/विध् ‘to pierce’) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘यस्य धीः अपाङ्गेन विद्धा’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘पापः’

Purport

Customarily everyone is eligible to inherit his father’s property, and Ajāmila also inherited the money of his father. But what did he do with the money? Instead of engaging the money in the service of Kṛṣṇa, he engaged it in the service of a prostitute. Therefore he was condemned and was punishable by Yamarāja. How did this happen? He was victimized by the dangerous lustful glance of a prostitute.

Characters & Entities

• Ajāmila

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how lust leads to spiritual downfall?

This verse shows that uncontrolled attraction can pierce one’s intelligence and quickly make a person abandon dharma—even rejecting a virtuous spouse and honorable family duties.

Why did Ajāmila abandon his wife in the Ajāmila story (Bhagavatam 6.1)?

Because his mind became overpowered by desire after being captivated by a prostitute’s seductive glance, he soon rejected his young brāhmaṇa wife despite her respectable background.

Practical application: how can one protect the mind from harmful attraction today?

Guard the senses and company, avoid provocative situations, and strengthen sādhana (holy name, scripture, and discipline) so intelligence remains steady and dharma is not compromised.