manye kuñjara-śaucavat

kvacit-sometimes; nivartate-ceases; abhadrat-from sinful activity; kvacit-sometimes; carati-commits; tat-that (sinful activity); punah-again; prayascittam-the process of atonement; atho-therefore; apartham-useless; manye-I consider; kunjara-saucavat-exactly like the bathing of an elephant.