Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 2
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणश्चैव त्रैगुण्यविषयो मुने । योऽसावलीनप्रकृतेर्गुणसर्ग: पुन: पुन: ॥ २ ॥
pravṛtti-lakṣaṇaś caiva traiguṇya-viṣayo mune yo ’sāv alīna-prakṛter guṇa-sargaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
噢，牟尼啊，所谓pravṛtti-mārga乃三种物质性（guṇa）所支配之途。众生若仍沉溺于物质自然，诸guṇa之造作便一再发生，使其获得种种身躯以受乐或受苦；随身心倾向而行，便在此趋向之道上流转。
As Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25) :
FAQs
This verse states that pravritti—materially motivated engagement—moves within the three gunas and repeatedly expresses their influence, keeping the conditioned soul within cyclical material patterns.
In the opening of the Ajamila episode, Śukadeva frames how sinful and pious actions arise from material modes, setting the philosophical basis for discussing bondage, atonement, and the power of devotion.
Notice how choices are pulled by goodness, passion, or ignorance, and deliberately shift from mode-driven habits toward sādhana and devotion—so actions become less binding and more spiritually directed.