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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila
6.1.86.1.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.9

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 6.1.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

द‍ृष्टश्रुताभ्यां यत्पापं जानन्नप्यात्मनोऽहितम् ।

करोति भूयो विवश: प्रायश्चित्तमथो कथम् ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

dṛṣṭa-śrutābhyāṁ yat pāpaṁ

jānann apy ātmano ’hitam

karoti bhūyo vivaśaḥ

prāyaścittam atho katham

Translation

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?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Atonement Must Address the Habit of Sin

  1. 1

    A person may see punishment and hear scriptural warnings, yet still repeat sinful acts. Knowing the consequences does not by itself overcome habit.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit questions the value of repeatedly sinning and atoning. Confession or punishment has little value if the same conduct continues.

  3. 3

    Attachment to sense enjoyment drives repeated wrongdoing. One must be trained to restrain the senses rather than remain helpless before habit.

Key points from the purport
  • In some religious sects a sinful man goes to a priest to confess his sinful acts and pay a fine, but then he again commits the same sins and returns to confess them again.
  • The word vivaśa is used herein, indicating that even one who does not want to commit sinful acts will be forced to do so by habit.
  • Parīkṣit Mahārāja therefore considered the process of atonement to have little value for saving one from sinful acts.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Sinful activities are painful both in this life and in the next. We should know for certain that the cause of all painful life is sinful action.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācaParīkṣit Mahārāja replied
  2. dṛṣṭaby seeing
  3. śrutābhyāmalso by hearing (from the scriptures or lawbooks)
  4. yatsince
  5. pāpamsinful, criminal action
  6. jānanknowing
  7. apialthough
  8. ātmanaḥof his self
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “sinful”, “sins”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “government”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which habit do I keep regretting without taking steps to change it?

Practice

Choose one recurring harmful habit and practice restraint at one moment when it usually arises today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

5 lectures given on it · quoted in 3 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it
Quoted in 3 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayAtonement Must Address the Habit of SinThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 6.1.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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