tiras-kṛtā vipralabdhāḥ śaptāḥ kṣiptā hatā api nāsya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktāḥ prabhavo 'pi hi
Synonyms
tiraḥ-kṛtāḥ—being defamed; vipralabdhāḥ—being cheated; śaptāḥ—being cursed; kṣiptāḥ—disturbed by negligence; hatāḥ—or even being killed; api—also; na—never; asya—for all these acts; tat—them; pratikurvanti—counter act; tat—the Lord's; bhaktāḥ—devotees; prabhavaḥ—powerful; api—although; hi—certainly.
Translation
The devotees of the Lord are so much forbearing that even they are defamed, cheated, cursed, distrubed by negligence or even they are killed they are never inclined to counter act such reverses.
Purport
The Rishi Samik also knew it that the Lord does not even forgive a person who has had commited offence at the feet of a devotee. The Lord can only give direction to take shelter of the devotee only. He thought within himself that if Maharaj Parikshit would counter curse the boy he might be saved. But he knew it also that a pure devotee is callous about worldly advantages or reverses. As such the devotees are never inclined to counter act any action on them by personal defamation, curse negligence etc. So far such things are concerned in personal affairs the devotees do not care for them. But in case of their being performed on the Lord and his devotees then the devotee takes very strong action. It was a case of personal affair and therefore Samik Rishi knew it that the king would not take any counter action. Thus there was no alternative than to place appeal to the Lord for consideration of the immature childish boy.
It is not that only the Brahmins are powerful to award curse or blessings upon the subordinates but the devotee of the Lord even though he may not be a Brahmin is more powerful than a Brahmin. But such powerful devotee never misuses the power for personal benefit. Whatever power the devotee may have it is always utilised in the matter of service towards the Lord and His devotees only.