TEXT 9
sri-rajovaca
drsta-srutabhyam yat papam
janann apy atmano hitam
karoti bhuyo vivasah
prayascittam atho katham
SYNONYMS
sri-raja uvacaPariksit Maharaja replied; drstaby seeing; srutabhyamalso by hearing (from the scriptures or lawbooks); yatsince; papamsinful, criminal action; jananknowing; apialthough; atmanahof his self; ahitaminjurious; karotihe acts; bhuyahagain and again; vivasahunable to control himself; prayascittamatonement; athotherefore; kathamwhat is the value of.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Pariksit 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?
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. This is the practice of a professional sinner. Pariksit Maharajas observations indicate that even five thousand years ago it was the practice of criminals to atone for their crimes but then commit the same crimes again, as if forced to do so. Therefore, owing to his practical experience, Pariksit Maharaja saw that the process of repeatedly sinning and atoning is pointless. Regardless of how many times he is punished, one who is attached to sense enjoyment will commit sinful acts again and again until he is trained to refrain from enjoying his senses. The word vivasa is used herein, indicating that even one who does not want to commit sinful acts will be forced to do so by habit. Pariksit Maharaja therefore considered the process of atonement to have little value for saving one from sinful acts. In the following verse he further explains his rejection of this process.

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