FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.4

पुंसां श्लाघ्यतमं मन्ये दण्डमर्हत्तमार्पितम् । यं न माता पिता भ्राता सुहृदश्चादिशन्ति हि ॥ ४ ॥
puṁsāṁ ślāghyatamaṁ manye
[pumsaam shlaaghyatamam manye]
daṇḍam arhattamārpitam
[dandam arhattamaarpitam]
yaṁ na mātā pitā bhrātā
[yam na maataa pitaa bhraataa]
suhṛdaś cādiśanti hi
[suhridash chaadishanti hi]
Word-for-word
puṁsām — of men ślāghya-tamam — the most exalted manye — I consider daṇḍam — punishment arhattama-arpitam — given by You, the supreme worshipable Lord yam — which na — neither mātā — mother pitā — father bhrātā — brother suhṛdaḥ — friends ca — also ādiśanti — offer hi — indeed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
puṁsāṁ ślāghyatamaṁ manye
puṁsām
of men
ślāghya-tamam
the most exalted
manye
I consider
daṇḍam arhattamārpitam
daṇḍam
punishment
arhattama-arpitam
given by You, the supreme worshipable Lord
yaṁ na mātā pitā bhrātā
yam
which
na
neither
mātā
mother
pitā
father
bhrātā
brother
suhṛdaś cādiśanti hi
suhṛdaḥ
friends
ca
also
ādiśanti
offer
hi
indeed.
Although a father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a well-wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this. But because You are the most worshipable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted.
Purport

Punishment meted out by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted by the devotee as the greatest mercy.

tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

“One who seeks Your compassion and thus tolerates all kinds of adverse conditions due to the karma of his past deeds, who engages always in Your devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances to You is certainly a bona fide candidate for liberation.” ( Bhāg. 10.14.8 ) A devotee knows that so-called punishment by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only His favor to correct His devotee and bring him to the right path. Therefore the punishment awarded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be compared to even the greatest benefit awarded by one’s material father, mother, brother or friend.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A father, mother, brother or friend does not punish his subordinate in a thoroughly correct manner. I regard the punishment given by you, the most praiseworthy, as most exalted punishment, since it gives the best results. “But your defamation will come from being bound up by me.” Though mothers and others punish a person for a person’s benefit, they do not punish completely (na ādiśanti). Though mothers and others are praiseworthy for being benefactors in this world, those who punish to give spiritual benefit are millions of times more affectionate to a person.
Related values & verses
Related verses
SB 10.14.8
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Even a father or friend would not punish a subordinate this way; but because You are the most worshipable, I regard Your punishment as most exalted. Divine punishment is honor. The source dignifies the act.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose corrective action have I rejected as humiliation when it was, by source, an honor?
  • What 'punishment' in my recent life would I receive differently if I named its source rightly?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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