Shloka 44
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
तस्मान् कस्यचिद्द्रोहमाचरेत् स तथाविध: । आत्मन: क्षेममन्विच्छन् द्रोग्धुर्वै परतो भयम् ॥ ४४ ॥
tasmān na kasyacid droham ācaret sa tathā-vidhaḥ ātmanaḥ kṣemam anvicchan drogdhur vai parato bhayam
Therefore one should not commit malice or envy toward anyone. Seeking one’s own welfare, one should not become a wrongdoer, for the envious must always fear harm from enemies—either in this life or in the next.
Instead of being inimical toward other living entities, one should act piously by engaging in the service of the Supreme Lord, thus avoiding a fearful situation both in this life and in the next. In this regard, the following moral instruction by the great politician Cāṇakya Paṇḍita is very meaningful:
FAQs
This verse teaches that one should not harbor or act on malice toward anyone, because the one who harms others invites fear and retaliation, losing one’s own peace and welfare.
In the context of Kaṁsa’s persecution surrounding Krishna’s birth, Śukadeva highlights a dharmic principle: aggressive wrongdoing creates insecurity for the wrongdoer, as fear returns from others.
Avoid revenge, deceit, and hostile speech; choose integrity and non-malice. It protects mental peace and reduces the cycle of conflict that naturally rebounds on the aggressor.