Shloka 39
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
कथं स्विद् ध्रियते दण्ड: किं वास्य स्थानमीप्सितम् । दण्ड्या: किं कारिण: सर्वे आहो स्वित्कतिचिन्नृणाम् ॥ ३९ ॥
kathaṁ svid dhriyate daṇḍaḥ kiṁ vāsya sthānam īpsitam daṇḍyāḥ kiṁ kāriṇaḥ sarve āho svit katicin nṛṇām
การลงทัณฑ์กระทำอย่างไร และสถานที่/อำนาจที่เหมาะสมของทัณฑ์นั้นคืออะไร? ผู้ใดเป็นผู้สมควรถูกลงโทษ? ผู้ทำกรรมเพื่อหวังผลทุกคนต้องถูกลงโทษหรือเพียงบางคนเท่านั้น?
One who has the power to punish others should not punish everyone. There are innumerable living entities, the majority of whom are in the spiritual world and are nitya-mukta, everlastingly liberated. There is no question of judging these liberated living beings. Only a small fraction of the living entities, perhaps one fourth, are in the material world. And the major portion of the living entities in the material world — 8,000,000 of the 8,400,000 forms of life — are lower than human beings. They are not punishable, for under the laws of material nature they are automatically evolving. Human beings, who are advanced in consciousness, are responsible, but not all of them are punishable. Those engaged in advanced pious activities are beyond punishment. Only those who engage in sinful activities are punishable. Therefore the Viṣṇudūtas particularly inquired about who is punishable and why Yamarāja has been designated to discriminate between who is punishable and who is not. How is one to be judged? What is the basic principle of authority? These are the questions raised by the Viṣṇudūtas.
FAQs
This verse raises the dharmic inquiry that punishment must be applied properly—according to the right authority, the right jurisdiction, and the true eligibility of the person—rather than blindly to everyone.
After being checked by the Viṣṇudūtas, the Yamadūtas seek clarity about the principles of dharma—who can be punished, by whom, and on what basis—so they can carry out Yamarāja’s justice without error.
Before judging or punishing others, ensure you understand the proper rule, authority, and context—justice should be principled and discerning, not impulsive or indiscriminate.