Shiva Purana
महादेव उवाच ॥ माभैष्ट त्रिदशास्सर्वे यूयं वै मामिकाः प्रजाः ॥ अनुग्रहार्थमेवेह धृतो दंडः कृपालुना ॥ १६ ॥
Lord Śiva said:— O gods, do not be afraid. You are my own subjects. It is only to bless you that the punishment has been meted out to you by the merciful lord.
english translation
mahAdeva uvAca ॥ mAbhaiSTa tridazAssarve yUyaM vai mAmikAH prajAH ॥ anugrahArthameveha dhRto daMDaH kRpAlunA ॥ 16 ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript