The Boundaries of Atonement and the Primacy of Bhakti
Here the sages analyze traditional atonement (prayaschitta) and its limits. Ritual expiations can mitigate specific sins, but without a change of heart they leave the root tendencies intact. Like cleaning a surface without removing the stain beneath, atonement alone often fails to prevent relapse.
Bhakti, by contrast, addresses the root by transforming desire. When the heart turns toward serving the Supreme, lower impulses lose their grip. The text illustrates this with analogies: watering a tree at the root nourishes all branches; feeding the stomach energizes every limb. Devotion similarly satisfies the soul and naturally orders conduct.
The chapter concludes that while atonement has procedural value, only devotion grants lasting immunity from vice. Sincere engagement in hearing, chanting, and service neutralizes past reactions and reshapes character, making further transgression increasingly unlikely. Thus, bhakti stands as the most comprehensive remedy.