982 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 18

{t is not that only the brahmanas are powerful enough to award curses
or blessings upon the subordinates, but the devotee of the Lord, even
though he may not be a brahmana, is more powerful than a brahmana. But
a powerful devotee never misuses the power for personal benefit. Whatever
power the devotee may have is always utilized in service towards the Lord
and His devotees only.

TEXT 49

afi gapaea asaqm Aaafa: |
we fared Us Aad rahe esl

iti putra-krtaghena
so’nutapto maha-munih

svayam viprakrto rajiia
naivangham tad acintayat

iti—thus; putra—son; krta—done by; aghena—by the sin; sah—he, the
muni; anutaptah—regretting; mahd-munih—the sage; svayam—personally;
viprakrtah—being so insulted; rajia—the King; na—not; eva—certainly;
angham—the sin; tat—that; acintayat— thought of it.

TRANSLATION

The sage thus regretted the sin committed by his own son. He did not
take the insult paid by the King very seriously.

PURPORT

The whole incidence is now cleared up. Maharaja Pariksit’s garlanding
the sage with a dead snake was not at all a very serious offense, but Srrigi’s
cursing the King was a serious offense. The serious offense was committed
by a foolish child only; therefore he deserved to be pardoned by the Su-
preme Lord, although it was not possible to get free from the sinful reac-
tion. Maharaja Pariksit also did not mind the curse offered to him by a
foolish brahmana. On the contrary, he took full advantage of the awkward
situation, and by the great will of the Lord, Maharaja Panksit achieved the
highest perfection of life through the grace of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami.
Actually it was the desire of the Lord, and Maharaja Pariksit, Rsi Samik
and his son Srhgi were all instrumental in fulfilling the desire of the
Lord. So none of them were put into difficulty because everything was
done in relation with the Supreme Person.
