TEXT 2
dhruvam tato me krta-deva-helanad
duratyayam vyasanam nati-dirghat
tad astu kamam hy agha-niskrtaya me
yatha na kuryam punar evam addha
SYNONYMS
dhruvamsure and certain; tatahtherefore; memy; krta-deva-helanatbecause of disobeying the orders of the Lord; duratyayamvery difficult; vyasanamcalamity; nanot; atigreatly; dirghatfar off; tatthat; astulet it be; kamamdesire without reservations; hicertainly; aghasins; niskrtayafor getting free; memy; yathaso that; nanever; kuryamshall I do it; punahagain; evamas I have done; addhadirectly.
TRANSLATION
[King Pariksit thought:] Due to my neglecting the injunctions of the Supreme Lord I must certainly expect some difficulty to overcome me in the near future. I now desire without reservation that the calamity come now, for in this way I may be freed of the sinful action and not commit such an offense again.
PURPORT
The Supreme Lord enjoins that brahmanas and cows must be given all protection. The Lord is Himself very much inclined to do good to brahmanas and cows (go-brahmana-hitaya ca). Maharaja Pariksit knew all this, and thus he concluded that his insulting a powerful brahmana was certainly to be punished by the laws of the Lord, and he was expecting something very difficult in the very near future. He therefore desired the imminent calamity to fall on him and not on his family members. A man's personal misconduct affects all his family members. Therefore Maharaja Pariksit desired the calamity to fall on him alone. By suffering personally he would be restrained from future sins, and at the same time the sin which he had committed would be counteracted so that his descendants would not suffer. That is the way a responsible devotee thinks. The family members of a devotee also share the effects of a devotee's service unto the Lord. Maharaja Prahlada saved his demon father by his personal devotional service. A devotee son in the family is the greatest boon or blessing of the Lord.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/19/2

Previous: SB 1.19.1     Next: SB 1.19.3

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada