—json {

  "name":"SB 6.2.28",
  "h1":"SB 6.2.28",
  "label":"Text 28",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.2.28",
  "description":"My father and mother were old and had no other son or friend to look after them. Because I did not take care of them, they lived with great difficulty. Alas, like an abominable lower-class man, I ungratefully left them in that condition."

} —

SB 6.2.28

Text

vṛddhāv anāthau pitarau
nānya-bandhū tapasvinau
aho mayādhunā tyaktāv
akṛtajñena nīcavat

Synonyms

vṛddhau—old; anāthau—who had no other person to look after their comforts; pitarau—my father and mother; na anya-bandhū—who had no other friend; tapasvinau—who underwent great difficulties; aho—alas; mayā—by me; adhunā—at that moment; tyaktau—were given up; akṛta-jñena—ungrateful; nīca-vat—like the most abominable low-class person.

Translation

My father and mother were old and had no other son or friend to look after them. Because I did not take care of them, they lived with great difficulty. Alas, like an abominable lower-class man, I ungratefully left them in that condition.

Purport

According to Vedic civilization, everyone has the responsibility for taking care of brāhmaṇas, old men, women, children and cows. This is the duty of everyone, especially an upper-class person. Because of his association with a prostitute, Ajāmila abandoned all his duties. Regretting this, Ajāmila now considered himself quite fallen.