Shloka 48
तिरस्कृता विप्रलब्धा: शप्ता: क्षिप्ता हता अपि । नास्य तत् प्रतिकुर्वन्ति तद्भक्ता: प्रभवोऽपि हि ॥ ४८ ॥
tiraskṛtā vipralabdhāḥ śaptāḥ kṣiptā hatā api nāsya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktāḥ prabhavo ’pi hi
The Lord’s devotees are supremely forbearing: though defamed, deceived, cursed, disturbed, neglected, or even slain, they never turn to vengeance, even when they have the power to do so.
Ṛṣi Śamīka also knew that the Lord does not forgive a person who has committed an offense at the feet of a devotee. The Lord can only give direction to take shelter of the devotee. He thought within himself that if Mahārāja Parīkṣit would countercurse the boy, he might be saved. But he knew also that a pure devotee is callous about worldly advantages or reverses. As such, the devotees are never inclined to counteract personal defamation, curses, negligence, etc. As far as such things are concerned, in personal affairs the devotees do not care for them. But in the case of their being performed against the Lord and His devotees, then the devotees take very strong action. It was a personal affair, and therefore Śamīka Ṛṣi knew that the King would not take counteraction. Thus there was no alternative than to place an appeal to the Lord for the immature boy.
FAQs
This verse teaches that true devotees do not retaliate even when insulted, cursed, deceived, or harmed; their devotion expresses itself as tolerance and forgiveness.
In the context of Parīkṣit being cursed, Śukadeva highlights the standard of bhakti: a devotee, even if powerful enough to punish, restrains vengeance and remains aligned with the Lord’s will.
Practice restraint and forgiveness when provoked—respond with clarity and dharma rather than revenge, remembering that spiritual strength includes self-control.