Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 4
Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy
Sutala and Future Indrahood
पुंसां श्लाघ्यतमं मन्ये दण्डमर्हत्तमार्पितम् । यं न माता पिता भ्राता सुहृदश्चादिशन्ति हि ॥ ४ ॥
puṁsāṁ ślāghyatamaṁ manye daṇḍam arhattamārpitam yaṁ na mātā pitā bhrātā suhṛdaś cādiśanti hi
Trong loài người, con cho rằng hình phạt đáng ca ngợi nhất là hình phạt do Đấng đáng tôn thờ tối thượng ban xuống. Mẹ, cha, anh em hay bạn hữu—dù vì thiện ý—cũng không trừng phạt kẻ dưới quyền như vậy; nhưng vì Ngài là Chúa Tể tối thượng, con xem sự trừng phạt Ngài dành cho con là cao quý nhất.
Punishment meted out by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted by the devotee as the greatest mercy.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when the Supreme Lord administers fitting chastisement, it is actually most praiseworthy—because it reforms the soul in a way that even loving relatives cannot accomplish.
In the context of the Lord’s intervention and protection of His devotee, Indra acknowledges that the Lord’s corrective discipline is perfect and beneficial, unlike ordinary worldly correction.
See setbacks and corrections as opportunities for inner reform—accept responsibility, align actions with dharma, and take guidance from scripture and saintly counsel rather than resisting egoically.