Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.7
अतस्त्वमेको भूतानां सेश्वराणामधीश्वर: ।
शास्ता दण्डधरो नृणां शुभाशुभविवेचन: ॥ ७ ॥
atas tvam eko bhūtānāṁ
[atas tvam eko bhootaanaam]
seśvarāṇām adhīśvaraḥ
[seshvaraanaam adheeshvarah]
śāstā daṇḍa-dharo nṝṇāṁ
[shaastaa danda-dharo nreenaam]
śubhāśubha-vivecanaḥ
[shubhaashubha-vivechanah]
Word-for-word
ataḥ
—
as such
tvam
—
you
ekaḥ
—
one
bhūtānām
—
of all living beings
sa-īśvarāṇām
—
including all the demigods
adhīśvaraḥ
—
the supreme master
śāstā
—
the supreme ruler
daṇḍa-dharaḥ
—
the supreme administrator of punishment
nṝṇām
—
of human society
śubha-aśubha-vivecanaḥ
—
who discriminates between what is auspicious and inauspicious.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
atas tvam eko bhūtānāṁ
ataḥ
as such
tvam
you
ekaḥ
one
bhūtānām
of all living beings
seśvarāṇām adhīśvaraḥ
śāstā daṇḍa-dharo nṝṇāṁ
sa-īśvarāṇām
including all the demigods
adhīśvaraḥ
the supreme master
śāstā
the supreme ruler
daṇḍa-dharaḥ
the supreme administrator of punishment
nṝṇām
of human society
śubhāśubha-vivecanaḥ
śubha-aśubha-vivecanaḥ
who discriminates between what is auspicious and inauspicious.
The supreme judge must be one, not many. It was our understanding that you are that supreme judge and that you have jurisdiction even over the demigods. Our impression was that you are the master of all living entities, the supreme authority who discriminates between the pious and impious activities of all human beings.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
You are the one controller and punisher of all living beings including the devatās. You alone decide the happiness and distress of all humans.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The Yamadūtas had assumed Yamarāja himself was that supreme judge, with jurisdiction even over the demigods. Even well-meaning service can rest on a confused theology.
Reflection Questions
- What hidden theological assumption is shaping how I serve?
- Have I confused a powerful middle authority with the ultimate one?
My note
Source: vedabase.io