FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.5

सङ्ग्रहेण मयाख्यात: प्रतिसर्गस्तवानघ । त्रि: श्रुत्वैतत्पुमान् पुण्यं विधुनोत्यात्मनो मलम् ॥ ५ ॥
saṅgraheṇa mayākhyātaḥ
[sangrahena mayaakhyaatah]
pratisargas tavānagha
[pratisargas tavaanagha]
triḥ śrutvaitat pumān puṇyaṁ
[trih shrutvaitat pumaan punyam]
vidhunoty ātmano malam
[vidhunoty aatmano malam]
Word-for-word
saṅgraheṇa — in summary mayā — by me ākhyātaḥ — is explained pratisargaḥ — cause of devastation tava — your anagha — O pure one triḥ — three times śrutvā — having heard etat — this description pumān — one who puṇyam — piety vidhunoti — washes off ātmanaḥ — of the soul malam — contamination.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
saṅgraheṇa mayākhyātaḥ
saṅgraheṇa
in summary
mayā
by me
ākhyātaḥ
is explained
pratisargas tavānagha
pratisargaḥ
cause of devastation
tava
your
anagha
O pure one
triḥ śrutvaitat pumān puṇyaṁ
triḥ
three times
śrutvā
having heard
etat
this description
pumān
one who
puṇyam
piety
vidhunoty ātmano malam
vidhunoti
washes off
ātmanaḥ
of the soul
malam
contamination.
My dear Vidura, I have summarily explained the causes of devastation. One who hears this description three times attains piety and washes the sinful contamination from his soul.
Purport

The creation takes place on the basis of goodness, but devastation takes place because of irreligion. That is the way of material creation and devastation. Here it is stated that the cause of devastation is Adharma, or Irreligion. The descendants of Irreligion and Falsity, born one after another, are Bluffing, Cheating, Greed, Cunning, Anger, Envy, Quarrel, Harsh Speech, Death, Fear, Severe Pain and Hell. All these descendants are described as signs of devastation. If a person is pious and hears about these causes of devastation, he will feel hatred for all these, and that will cause his advancement in a life of piety. Piety refers to the process of cleansing the heart. As recommended by Lord Caitanya, one has to cleanse the dust from the mirror of the mind, and then advancement on the path of liberation begins. Here also the same process is recommended. Malam means “contamination.” We should learn to despise all the causes of devastation, beginning from irreligion and cheating, and then we shall be able to make advancement in a life of piety. The possibility of our attaining Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be easier, and we shall not be subjected to repeated devastation. The present life is repeated birth and death, but if we seek the path of liberation, we may be saved from repeated suffering.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O sinless Vidura! Briefly I have described destruction. One who hears three times this purifying description cleanses his mind of all sin. Saṅgrhena means “in summary.” Pratisargaḥ means destruction. The above description is called destruction because it is a cause of destruction. O sinless Vidura! You are not in this family of Adharma. The description is purifying because by hearing it one can avoid these items.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Hearing this genealogy of devastation three times itself washes sin. Mapping the anatomy of one's own decline is a form of cleansing; awareness is medicinal.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'family tree' of my own faults would I benefit from naming, three times, openly?
  • Where am I avoiding repetition of an uncomfortable truth that would actually purify me?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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