Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 35
Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line
Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha
नमो रुद्राय महते देवायोग्राय मीढुषे । शिवाय न्यस्तदण्डाय धृतदण्डाय मन्यवे ॥ ३५ ॥
namo rudrāya mahate devāyogrāya mīḍhuṣe śivāya nyasta-daṇḍāya dhṛta-daṇḍāya manyave
私は偉大なるルドラに礼拝する。彼は猛々しい大いなる神であり、また世俗の願いをも成就させる方。吉祥にして赦し深いシヴァであるが、その憤怒はただちに懲罰を下す。
Diti prayed for the mercy of Lord Śiva very cleverly. She prayed: “The lord can cause me to cry, but if he likes he can also stop my crying because he is Āśutoṣa. He is so great that if he likes he can immediately destroy my pregnancy, but by his mercy he can also fulfill my desire that my pregnancy not be spoiled. Because he is all-auspicious, it is not difficult for him to excuse me from being punished, although he is now ready to punish me because I have moved his great anger. He appears like a man, but he is the lord of all men.”
FAQs
This verse praises Rudra as “nyasta-daṇḍa” (one who can withhold punishment) and “dhṛta-daṇḍa” (one who can enforce it), showing Śiva’s balance of compassion and righteous chastisement.
In this chapter’s narrative, Diti approaches Rudra with reverence to seek favor and protection; she glorifies him as the powerful yet auspicious deity who can restrain or apply punishment.
Practice discernment: be forgiving when it reforms and protects, but uphold firm boundaries and discipline when it prevents harm—mirroring righteous compassion.