True judgment requires understanding dharma through Vedic knowledge, ultimately recognizing Krishna as life's supreme purpose.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.39 — July 20, 1975, San Francisco 750720SB-SAN FRANCISCO [28:14 Minutes] SB-06.01.39_750720SB-SAN FRANCISCO Nitāi: "The questions asked of the Yamadūtas by the Viṣṇudūtas are: What is the process of meeting out punishment to others? Who is actually a candidate to be punished? Are all karmīs engaged in fruitive activities fit to be punished, or only some of them?" Prabhupāda: kathaṁ svid dhriyate daṇḍaḥ kiṁ vāsya sthānam īpsitam daṇḍyāḥ kiṁ kāriṇaḥ sarve āho svit katicin nṛṇām [SB 6.1.39] So first question was, brūta dharmasya nas tattvaṁ yac ca adharmasya lakṣaṇam [SB 6.1.38]. When there is some vicāra, judgment, it must be done very nicely.
A criminal is judged before the magistrate. He is taken just to make proper judgment, "Whether this man is punishable? He committed some criminal activities." The circumstances, the condition of the mind—everything should be judged. This is called judgment.
So who is punishable? Deśa-kāla-pātra. There is consideration, deśa-kāla-pātra. Deśa means situation, and kāla, time, and pātra, and the subject.
Just like a child, he takes one fruit here. So he is not punishable. According to Vedic system, a child, a woman, a brāhmaṇa, a cow and a saintly person, they are not punishable. Cow, woman, saintly person, brāhmaṇa and child—they are beyond all laws.
Even they commit some... They do not do. They have no criminal purpose. Formerly the women were trained up in such a way, very chaste and obedient.
So they had no chance to commit any offense. And brāhmaṇas, they are also trained up. Śamo damaḥ satyaṁ śaucam... [children making noise] Sudāmā: Take the children out. Bahulāśva: All the children should go out. Prabhupāda: No, that's all right. [some devotees say "Jaya!" and applaud] So, children are not punishable.
[laughter, more applause] Neither the women. [more applause, laughter] Hmm. But don't take advantage. [laughter] And here we have got these brāhmaṇas, saintly persons, women and children.