Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 29
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
स एवमुत्सिक्तमदेन विद्विषा दृढं प्रलब्धो भगवानपां पति: । रोषं समुत्थं शमयन् स्वया धिया व्यवोचदङ्गोपशमं गता वयम् ॥ २९ ॥
sa evam utsikta-madena vidviṣā dṛḍhaṁ pralabdho bhagavān apāṁ patiḥ roṣaṁ samutthaṁ śamayan svayā dhiyā vyavocad aṅgopaśamaṁ gatā vayam
Thus mocked by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds, the worshipful lord of the waters waxed angry, but by dint of his reason he managed to curb the anger that had sprung up in him, and he replied: O dear one, we have now desisted from warfare, having grown too old for combat.
As we see, warmongering materialists always create fighting without reason.
FAQs
This verse highlights that even when provoked by an arrogant enemy, the Lord (Varuṇa) consciously restrains rising anger through clear intelligence and chooses pacifying speech.
Because he was being harshly insulted by a pride-intoxicated adversary, yet he checked his anger and responded from a position of calm, modeling restraint rather than escalation.
When insulted, pause before reacting; regulate anger with discernment, and respond in a way that de-escalates—choosing peace over ego-driven retaliation.