# SB 6.1.18 ## Text > prāyaścittāni cīrṇāni > nārāyaṇa-parāṅmukham > na niṣpunanti rājendra > surā-kumbham ivāpagāḥ ## Synonyms *prāyaścittāni*—processes of atonement; *cīrṇāni*—very nicely performed; *nārāyaṇa*-*parāṅmukham*—a nondevotee; *na* *niṣpunanti*—cannot purify; *rājendra*—O King; *surā*-*kumbham*—a pot containing liquor; *iva*—like; *āpa*-*gāḥ*—the waters of the rivers. ## Translation **My dear King, as a pot containing liquor cannot be purified even if washed in the waters of many rivers, nondevotees cannot be purified by processes of atonement even if they perform them very well.** ## Purport To take advantage of the methods of atonement, one must be at least somewhat devoted; otherwise there is no chance of one's being purified. It is clear from this verse that even those who take advantage of *karma-kāṇḍa* and *jñāna-kāṇḍa,* but are not at least slightly devoted cannot be purified simply by following these other paths. The word *prāyaścittāni* is plural in number to indicate both *karma-kāṇḍa* and *jñāna-kāṇḍa.* Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says, *karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa, kevala viṣera bhāṇḍa.* Thus Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura compares the paths of *karma-kāṇḍa* and *jñāna-kāṇḍa* to pots of poison. Liquor and poison are in the same category. According to this verse from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* a person who has heard a good deal about the path of devotional service, but who is not attached to it, who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, is like a pot of liquor. Such a person cannot be purified without at least a slight touch of devotional service.