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
Sa gayon, nang kutyain nang mariin ng kaaway na lasing sa walang-hanggang kayabangan, nag-alab ang galit ng kagalang-galang na panginoon ng mga tubig, si Varuṇa; ngunit sa talino niya’y napigil niya ang sumiklab na poot at sumagot: “Kaibigan, tumigil na kami sa pakikidigma; kami’y masyado nang matanda para sa labanan.”
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.