Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.14.35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAppeal to Mercy While Accepting Responsibility
“Let me offer my obeisances unto the angry Lord Śiva, who is simultaneously the very ferocious great demigod and the fulfiller of all material desires. He is all-auspicious and forgiving, but his anger can immediately move him to chastise.”
What the purport teaches
- Diti offered obeisances to Lord Śiva, acknowledging both his fierce anger and his forgiving nature. She did not deny his power to chastise.
- She understood that he could destroy her pregnancy or mercifully preserve it. Her prayer appealed to his power to fulfill her desire.
- Because Lord Śiva is all-auspicious and Āśutoṣa, Diti hoped he would excuse her. She acknowledged that she herself had aroused his anger.
Try this today
In a brief prayer today, acknowledge one fault and humbly ask for mercy.
Ask yourself
Can I ask for mercy while honestly admitting my responsibility?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.