NUM149 [Misah bidei Shamayim -- death administered by Heaven -- applies to] one who slanders another, as the pasuk says, (this verse), "The men who produced the evil slander on the land died in a plague before Hashem." Our sages, z"l, said (Tosefta Arachin 2:6) that if those who slander the land were punished with death [administered by Heaven], then this is surely the case for one who slanders a Jew bound to the fulfillment of the Torah and its mitzvos. The pasuk also says (Devarim 22:19), "They shall fine him one hundred silver shekels and give them to the girl's father, for his slander…" Note that the Torah does not mention how he sinned seeking the woman's life, trying to cause her death in a Jewish court of law by bringing false witnesses to testify about her adulterous affair. Rather, the Torah mentions the sin of his slandering her, for this is a greater sin than seeking to kill a human being, as the anguish associated with shame is more bitter than death itself. Similarly, our Sages, z"l, said (see Arachin 15a) that the Torah penalized him with both lashes and monetary compensation for slandering her name, not for seeking her death. Our Sages, z:l, further said (Yerushalmi Bava Kama 8:7) that a person who cast aspersions on one's family background can never be atoned for – – the forgiveness granted by the living who are still alive does not suffice, for he has caused a disgrace and besmirching of their progenitors.