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
得无形之因（未显因缘）则显与未显之果现起；随其强烈本性，如种与胎相应，众生于相应家族受生，粗身与细身亦随欲而成。
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.