Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.1.9
Ūti· What drives us to actAtonement Must Address the Habit of Sin
“Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: One may know that sinful activity is injurious for him because he actually sees that a criminal is punished by the government and rebuked by people in general and because he hears from scriptures and learned scholars that one is thrown into hellish conditions in the next life for committing sinful acts. Nevertheless, in spite of such knowledge, one is forced to commit sins again and again, even after performing acts of atonement. Therefore, what is the value of such atonement?”
What the purport teaches
- A person may see punishment and hear scriptural warnings, yet still repeat sinful acts. Knowing the consequences does not by itself overcome habit.
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit questions the value of repeatedly sinning and atoning. Confession or punishment has little value if the same conduct continues.
- Attachment to sense enjoyment drives repeated wrongdoing. One must be trained to restrain the senses rather than remain helpless before habit.
Try this today
Choose one recurring harmful habit and practice restraint at one moment when it usually arises today.
Ask yourself
Which habit do I keep regretting without taking steps to change it?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.