Hare Krsna,
Srimad Bhagavatam is replete with pastimes related to chastisement and benediction. In this chapter we have seen how Kasyapa first chastises Diti for interrupting her husband’s evening duties. He curses her that she will give birth to two demoniac sons who will cause constant lamentation to all the three worlds.
SB 3.14.38-41: The learned Kaśyapa said: Because of your mind’s being polluted, because of defilement of the particular time, because of your negligence of my directions, and because of your being apathetic to the demigods, everything was inauspicious. O haughty one, you will have two contemptuous sons born of your condemned womb. Unlucky woman, they will cause constant lamentation to all the three worlds! They will kill poor, faultless living entities, torture women and enrage the great souls.
It is said that the curse of the sages carries hidden benedictions. Even though Kasyapa cursed Diti, he also blessed Diti with the benediction that one of her grandsons (Prahlada Maharaja) will be a great devotee of the Lord. Kasyapa gave this benediction seeing Diti’s lamentation, penitence, and proper deliberation. The mountain of sins is fired in the fire of repentance.
SB 3.14.44-48: The learned Kaśyapa said: Because of your lamentation, penitence and proper deliberation, and also because of your unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and your adoration for Lord Śiva and me, one of the sons [Prahlāda] of your son [Hiraṇyakaśipu] will be an approved devotee of the Lord, and his fame will be broadcast equally with that of the Personality of Godhead.
Another famous pastime in SB is the pastime related to sons of Kuvera – Nalakuvera and Manigriva. The two great demigods Nalakuvara and Manigriva were sons of the treasurer of the demigods, Kuvera, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Once Narada Muni, who was passing by, caught them naked while enjoying with beautiful women in the water in a garden. They were so much intoxicated that they could not appreciate the presence of the sage Narada and therefore did not cover their bodies. On seeing the two demigods so degraded by intoxication, Narada desired their welfare, and therefore he exhibited his causeless mercy by cursing them. Sage Narada cursed that the two demigods Nalakuvara and Manigriva should remain for one hundred years, in the time of demigods, in the form of trees, and after that they would be fortunate enough to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, by His causeless mercy. And thus they would be again promoted to the life of the demigods and become great devotees of the Lord.
Another great example is that of Vrtrasura who was born as a demon. The Srimad-Bhagavatam explains that Vritrasura was a king named Chitraketu in his previous life. After his infant son died, King Chitraketu, in extreme despair, was enlightened with spiritual knowledge by the two sages Narada and Angira. Chitraketu then took to the process of bhakti-yoga. Shortly afterwards, he became overwhelmed with spiritual ecstasy and saw God face to face. Awarded the power to travel throughout the universe, he once spoke about Lord Shiva in a way that Parvati, Shiva’s wife, considered offensive. She cursed Chitraketu to become a demon in his next life. But even though born a demon, he did not lose any of his spiritual knowledge or progress. Even though Vritrasura was a demon, he was still an exalted bhakti-yogi able to propound deep transcendental knowledge even in the midst of a fight for his life. The four verse prayers of Vrtrasura are worth memorizing for every serious devotee. These prayers reveal his pure heart and devotion.
Therefore it is a blessing to be chastised by pure devotees and spiritual masters. In material realm, chastisement is frowned upon. But in spiritual realm, sincere devotees welcome chastisement because they come with hidden benedictions.
The curse of such a personality, however, is in fact a benediction. Both the crocodile, who had been a Gandharva in his previous life, and Gajendra, who had been a king named Indradyumna, were cursed, but both of them benefited. Indradyumna, in his birth as an elephant, attained salvation and became a personal associate of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha, and the crocodile regained his status as a Gandharva. We find evidence in many places that the curse of a great saint or devotee is not a curse but a benediction. (SB 8.4.1 Purport)
In conclusion, chastisement and benediction in transcendental realm have the same weightage. Both are blessings to devotees if they accept them in the right spirit and mood. The exchange between Kasyapa and Diti indicate that all is not lost if one makes a mistake or becomes overwhelmed by the modes of nature as long as one is sincere in repentance and seeks forgiveness.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 