Text 4]
Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life
159
TRANSLATION
I do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living in hellish life, being arrested for poverty by the ropes of Varuṇa or being punished by You as much as I fear defamation.
PURPORT
Although Bali Mahārāja fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not tolerate being defamed for cheating a  brāhmaṇa-brahmacārī . Being quite alert in regard to his reputation, he thought deeply about how to prevent being defamed. The Lord, therefore, gave him the good counsel to prevent defamation by offering his head. A Vaiṣṇava does not fear any punishment.  Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati  ( Bhāg.  6.17.28).
TEXT 4
पुंसां श्लाघ्यतमं मन्ये दण्डमर्हत्तमार्पितम् । यं न माता पिता भ्राता सुहृदश्चादिशन्ति हि ॥ ४ ॥
puṁsām ślāghyatamaṁ manye daṇḍam arhattamārpitam yaṁ na mātā pitā bhrātā suhṛdaś cādiśanti hi
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.
TRANSLATION
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.