Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 42
Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line
Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha
दितिरुवाच वधं भगवता साक्षात्सुनाभोदारबाहुना । आशासे पुत्रयोर्मह्यं मा क्रुद्धाद्ब्राह्मणाद्प्रभो ॥ ४२ ॥
ditir uvāca vadhaṁ bhagavatā sākṣāt sunābhodāra-bāhunā āśāse putrayor mahyaṁ mā kruddhād brāhmaṇād prabho
Diti dijo: Es muy bueno que mis hijos sean magnánimamente muertos por los brazos de la Personalidad de Dios con Su arma Sudarśana. Oh esposo mío, que nunca sean muertos por la ira de los devotos brāhmaṇas.
When Diti heard from her husband that the great souls would be angered by the activities of her sons, she was very anxious. She thought that her sons might be killed by the wrath of the brāhmaṇas. The Lord does not appear when the brāhmaṇas become angry at someone, because the wrath of a brāhmaṇa is sufficient in itself. He certainly appears, however, when His devotee simply becomes sorry. A devotee of the Lord never prays to the Lord to appear for the sake of the troubles the miscreants cause for him, and he never bothers Him by asking for protection. Rather, the Lord is anxious to give protection to the devotees. Diti knew well that the killing of her sons by the Lord would also be His mercy, and therefore she says that the wheel and arms of the Lord are magnanimous. If someone is killed by the wheel of the Lord and is thus fortunate enough to see the arms of the Lord, that is sufficient for his liberation. Such good fortune is not achieved even by the great sages.
FAQs
This verse shows Diti fearing that her sons might be destroyed by the wrath/curse of an enraged brāhmaṇa, implying that brāhmaṇa anger can be spiritually and karmically devastating.
After seeking to have children, Diti foresees danger for her offspring and asks Kashyapa that their end come only by the Supreme Lord’s direct action—not through the reaction of brāhmaṇical anger.
Respect spiritual integrity and avoid provoking saintly or principled people; cultivate self-control, because anger and disrespect can create severe consequences for oneself and one’s family.