Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 22
Purañjana Goes Hunting — The Chariot of the Body, Violence of Passion, and Return to Conjugal Bondage
परमोऽनुग्रहो दण्डो भृत्येषु प्रभुणार्पित: । बालो न वेद तत्तन्वि बन्धुकृत्यममर्षण: ॥ २२ ॥
paramo ’nugraho daṇḍo bhṛtyeṣu prabhuṇārpitaḥ bālo na veda tat tanvi bandhu-kṛtyam amarṣaṇaḥ
My dear slender maiden, when a master chastises his servant, the servant should accept this as great mercy. One who becomes angry must be very foolish not to know that such is the duty of his friend.
It is said that when a foolish man is instructed in something very nice, he generally cannot accept it. Indeed, he actually becomes angry. Such anger is compared to the poison of a serpent, for when a serpent is fed milk and bananas, its poison actually increases. Instead of becoming merciful or sober, the serpent increases its poisonous venom when fed nice foodstuffs. Similarly, when a fool is instructed, he does not rectify himself but actually becomes angry.
FAQs
This verse teaches that chastisement given by a rightful authority for one’s welfare is actually the highest compassion, meant to correct and uplift the dependent.
Because an immature, intolerant mind judges correction as hostility, failing to see the beneficent purpose behind the punishment and the long-term good it brings.
It encourages humility toward constructive correction—accepting guidance from legitimate authority (guru, elders, teachers, or dharmic leadership) as an opportunity for growth rather than taking it as personal enmity.