Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Eighteen
Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
SB6.18Summary
This chapter gives the history of Diti, the wife of Kaśyapa, and how she followed a vow to have a son who would kill Indra. It also describes how Indra attempted to foil her plan by cutting to pieces the son within her womb.
In relation to Tvaṣṭā and his descendants, there is a description of the dynasty of the Ādityas (sons of Aditi) and other demigods. Pṛśni, the wife of Aditi’s fifth son named Savitā, had three daughters—Sāvitrī, Vyāhṛti and Trayī—and very exalted sons named Agnihotra, Paśu, Soma, Cāturmāsya and the five Mahāyajñas. Siddhi, the wife of Bhaga, had three sons, named Mahimā, Vibhu and Prabhu, and she also had one daughter, whose name was Āśī. Dhātā had four wives—Kuhū, Sinīvālī, Rākā and Anumati—who had four sons, named Sāyam, Darśa, Prātaḥ and Pūrṇamāsa respectively. Kriyā, the wife of Vidhātā, gave birth to the five Purīṣyas, who are representatives of five kinds of fire-gods. Bhṛgu, the mind-born son of Brahmā, took his birth again from Carṣaṇī, the wife of Varuṇa, and the great sage Vālmīki appeared from Varuṇa’s semen. Agastya and Vasiṣṭha were two sons of Varuṇa and Mitra. Upon seeing the beauty of Urvaśī, Mitra and Varuṇa discharged semen, which they kept in an earthen pot. From that pot, Agastya and Vasiṣṭha appeared. Mitra had a wife named Revatī, who gave birth to three sons—Utsarga, Ariṣṭa and Pippala. Aditi had twelve sons, of whom Indra was the eleventh. Indra’s wife was named Paulomī (Śacīdevī). She gave birth to three sons—Jayanta, Ṛṣabha and Mīḍhuṣa. By His own powers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Vāmanadeva. From His wife, whose name was Kīrti, appeared a son named Bṛhatśloka. Bṛhatśloka’s first son was known as Saubhaga. This is a description of the sons of Aditi. A description of Āditya Urukrama, who is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be offered in the Eighth Canto.
The demons born of Diti are also described in this chapter. In the dynasty of Diti appeared the great saintly devotee Prahlāda and also Bali, Prahlāda’s grandson. Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa were the first sons of Diti. Hiraṇyakaśipu and his wife, whose name was Kayādhu, had four sons—Saṁhlāda, Anuhlāda, Hlāda and Prahlāda. They also had one daughter, whose name was Siṁhikā. In association with the demon Vipracit, Siṁhikā bore a son named Rāhu, whose head was severed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛti, the wife of Saṁhlāda, bore a son named Pañcajana. Hlāda’s wife, whose name was Dhamani, gave birth to two sons—Vātāpi and Ilvala. Ilvala put Vātāpi into the form of a ram and gave him to Agastya to eat. Anuhlāda, in the womb of his wife, Sūryā, begot two sons, named Bāṣkala and Mahiṣa. Prahlāda’s son was known as Virocana, and his grandson was known as Bali Mahārāja. Bali Mahārāja had one hundred sons, of whom Bāṇa was the eldest.
After describing the dynasty of the Ādityas and the other demigods, Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes Diti’s sons known as the Maruts and how they were elevated to the position of demigods. Just to help Indra, Lord Viṣṇu had killed Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Because of this, Diti was very envious, and she was eager to have a son who could kill Indra. By her service, she enchanted Kaśyapa Muni in order to beg from him a greater son to do this. In corroboration of the Vedic injunction vidvāṁsam api karṣati, Kaśyapa Muni was attracted to his beautiful wife and promised to grant her any request. When, however, she requested a son who would kill Indra, he condemned himself, and he advised his wife Diti to follow the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies to purify herself. When Diti, following the instructions of Kaśyapa, engaged in devotional service, Indra could understand her purpose, and he began observing all her activities. One day, Indra had the opportunity to see her deviating from devotional service. Thus he entered her womb and cut her son into forty-nine parts. In this way the forty-nine kinds of air known as the Maruts appeared, but because Diti had performed the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies, all the sons became Vaiṣṇavas.
SB6.18.1 TEXT 1 śrī-śuka uvāca pṛśnis tu patnī savituḥ sāvitrīṁ vyāhṛtiṁ trayīm agnihotraṁ paśuṁ somaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ mahā-makhān SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; pṛśniḥ—Pṛśni; tu—then; patnī—wife; savituḥ—of Savitā; sāvitrīm—Sāvitrī; vyāhṛtim—Vyāhṛti; trayīm—Trayī; agnihotram—Agnihotra; paśum—Paśu; somam—Soma; cāturmāsyam—Cāturmāsya; mahā-makhān—the five Mahāyajñas.
TRANSLATION Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Pṛśni, who was the wife of Savitā, the fifth of the twelve sons of Aditi, gave birth to three daughters—Sāvitrī, Vyāhṛti and Trayī—and the sons named Agnihotra, Paśu, Soma, Cāturmāsya and the five Mahāyajñas. SB6.18.2 TEXT 2 siddhir bhagasya bhāryāṅga mahimānaṁ vibhuṁ prabhum āśiṣaṁ ca varārohāṁ kanyāṁ prāsūta suvratām SYNONYMS siddhiḥ—Siddhi; bhagasya—of Bhaga; bhāryā—the wife; aṅga—my dear King; mahimānam—Mahimā; vibhum—Vibhu; prabhum—Prabhu; āśiṣam—Āśī; ca—and; varārohām—very beautiful; kanyām—daughter; prāsūta—bore; su-vratām—virtuous.
TRANSLATION O King, Siddhi, who was the wife of Bhaga, the sixth son of Aditi, bore three sons, named Mahimā, Vibhu and Prabhu, and one extremely beautiful daughter, whose name was Āśī. SB6.18.3-4 TEXTS 3–4 dhātuḥ kuhūḥ sinīvālī rākā cānumatis tathā sāyaṁ darśam atha prātaḥ pūrṇamāsam anukramāt agnīn purīṣyān ādhatta kriyāyāṁ samanantaraḥ carṣaṇī varuṇasyāsīd yasyāṁ jāto bhṛguḥ punaḥ SYNONYMS dhātuḥ—of Dhātā; kuhūḥ—Kuhū; sinīvālī—Sinīvālī; rākā—Rākā; ca—and; anumatiḥ—Anumati; tathā—also; sāyam—Sāyam; darśam—Darśa; atha—also; prātaḥ—Prātaḥ; pūrṇamāsam—Pūrṇamāsa; anukramāt—respectively; agnīn—fire-gods; purīṣyān—called the Purīṣyas; ādhatta—begot; kriyāyām—in Kriyā; samanantaraḥ—the next son, Vidhātā; carṣaṇī—Carṣaṇī; varuṇasya—of Varuṇa; āsīt—was; yasyām—in whom; jātaḥ—took birth; bhṛguḥ—Bhṛgu; punaḥ—again.
TRANSLATION Dhātā, the seventh son of Aditi, had four wives, named Kuhū, Sinīvālī, Rākā and Anumati. These wives begot four sons, named Sāyam, Darśa, Prātaḥ and Pūrṇamāsa respectively. The wife of Vidhātā, the eighth son of Aditi, was named Kriyā. In her Vidhātā begot the five fire-gods named the Purīṣyas. The wife of Varuṇa, the ninth son of Aditi, was named Carṣaṇī. Bhṛgu, the son of Brahmā, took birth again in her womb. SB6.18.5 TEXT 5 vālmīkiś ca mahā-yogī valmīkād abhavat kila agastyaś ca vasiṣṭhaś ca mitrā-varuṇayor ṛṣī SYNONYMS vālmīkiḥ—Vālmīki; ca—and; mahā-yogī—the great mystic; valmīkāt—from an anthill; abhavat—took birth; kila—indeed; agastyaḥ—Agastya; ca—and; vasiṣṭhaḥ—Vasiṣṭha; ca—also; mitrā-varuṇayoḥ—of Mitra and Varuṇa; ṛṣī—the two sages.
TRANSLATION By the semen of Varuṇa, the great mystic Vālmīki took birth from an anthill. Bhṛgu and Vālmīki were specific sons of Varuṇa, whereas Agastya and Vasiṣṭha Ṛṣis were the common sons of Varuṇa and Mitra, the tenth son of Aditi. SB6.18.6 TEXT 6 retaḥ siṣicatuḥ kumbhe urvaśyāḥ sannidhau drutam revatyāṁ mitra utsargam ariṣṭaṁ pippalaṁ vyadhāt SYNONYMS retaḥ—semen; siṣicatuḥ—discharged; kumbhe—in an earthen pot; urvaśyāḥ—of Urvaśī; sannidhau—in the presence; drutam—flown; revatyām—in Revatī; mitraḥ—Mitra; utsargam—Utsarga; ariṣṭam—Ariṣṭa; pippalam—Pippala; vyadhāt—begot.
TRANSLATION Upon seeing Urvaśī, the celestial society girl, both Mitra and Varuṇa discharged semen, which they preserved in an earthen pot. The two sons Agastya and Vasiṣṭha later appeared from that pot, and they are therefore the common sons of Mitra and Varuṇa. Mitra begot three sons in the womb of his wife, whose name was Revatī. Their names were Utsarga, Ariṣṭa and Pippala. PURPORT Modern science is trying to generate living entities in test tubes by processing semen, but even long, long ago it was possible for semen kept in a pot to develop into a child.
SB6.18.7 TEXT 7 paulomyām indra ādhatta trīn putrān iti naḥ śrutam jayantam ṛṣabhaṁ tāta tṛtīyaṁ mīḍhuṣaṁ prabhuḥ SYNONYMS paulomyām—in Paulomī (Śacīdevī); indraḥ—Indra; ādhatta—begot; trīn—three; putrān—sons; iti—thus; naḥ—by us; śrutam—heard; jayantam—Jayanta; ṛṣabham—Ṛṣabha; tāta—my dear King; tṛtīyam—third; mīḍhuṣam—Mīḍhuṣa; prabhuḥ—the lord.
TRANSLATION O King Parīkṣit, Indra, the King of the heavenly planets and eleventh son of Aditi, begot three sons, named Jayanta, Ṛṣabha and Mīḍhuṣa, in the womb of his wife, Paulomī. Thus we have heard. SB6.18.8 TEXT 8 urukramasya devasya māyā-vāmana-rūpiṇaḥ kīrtau patnyāṁ bṛhacchlokas tasyāsan saubhagādayaḥ SYNONYMS urukramasya—of Urukrama; devasya—the Lord; māyā—by His internal potency; vāmana-rūpiṇaḥ—having the form of a dwarf; kīrtau—in Kīrti; patnyām—His wife; bṛhacchlokaḥ—Bṛhatśloka; tasya—of him; āsan—were; saubhaga-ādayaḥ—sons beginning with Saubhaga.
TRANSLATION By His own potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has multifarious potencies, appeared in the form of a dwarf as Urukrama, the twelfth son of Aditi. In the womb of His wife, whose name was Kīrti, He begot one son, named Bṛhatśloka, who had many sons, headed by Saubhaga. PURPORT As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.6):
ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā “Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.” When the Supreme Personality of Godhead incarnates, He does not need any help from the external energy, for He appears as He is by His own potency. The spiritual potency is also called māyā. It is said, ato māyāmayaṁ viṣṇuṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ: the body accepted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called māyāmaya. This does not mean that He is formed of the external energy; this māyā refers to His internal potency.
SB6.18.9 TEXT 9 tat-karma-guṇa-vīryāṇi kāśyapasya mahātmanaḥ paścād vakṣyāmahe ’dityāṁ yathaivāvatatāra ha SYNONYMS tat—His; karma—activities; guṇa—qualities; vīryāṇi—and power; kāśyapasya—of the son of Kaśyapa; mahā-ātmanaḥ—the great soul; paścāt—later; vakṣyāmahe—I shall describe; adityām—in Aditi; yathā—how; eva—certainly; avatatāra—descended; ha—indeed.
TRANSLATION Later [in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam] I shall describe how Urukrama, Lord Vāmanadeva, appeared as the son of the great sage Kaśyapa and how He covered the three worlds with three steps. I shall describe the uncommon activities He performed, His qualities, His power and how He took birth from the womb of Aditi. SB6.18.10 TEXT 10 atha kaśyapa-dāyādān daiteyān kīrtayāmi te yatra bhāgavataḥ śrīmān prahrādo balir eva ca SYNONYMS atha—now; kaśyapa-dāyādān—the sons of Kaśyapa; daiteyān—born of Diti; kīrtayāmi—I shall describe; te—to you; yatra—where; bhāgavataḥ—the great devotee; śrī-mān—glorious; prahrādaḥ—Prahlāda; baliḥ—Bali; eva—certainly; ca—also.
TRANSLATION Now let me describe the sons of Diti, who were begotten by Kaśyapa but who became demons. In this demoniac family the great devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared, and Bali Mahārāja also appeared in that family. The demons are technically known as Daityas because they proceeded from the womb of Diti. SB6.18.11 TEXT 11 diter dvāv eva dāyādau daitya-dānava-vanditau hiraṇyakaśipur nāma hiraṇyākṣaś ca kīrtitau SYNONYMS diteḥ—of Diti; dvau—two; eva—certainly; dāyādau—sons; daitya-dānava—by the Daityas and Dānavas; vanditau—worshiped; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ—Hiraṇyakaśipu; nāma—named; hiraṇyākṣaḥ—Hiraṇyākṣa; ca—also; kīrtitau—known.
TRANSLATION First the two sons named Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa took birth from Diti’s womb. Both of them were very powerful and were worshiped by the Daityas and Dānavas. SB6.18.12-13 TEXTS 12–13 hiraṇyakaśipor bhāryā kayādhur nāma dānavī jambhasya tanayā sā tu suṣuve caturaḥ sutān saṁhrādaṁ prāg anuhrādaṁ hrādaṁ prahrādam eva ca tat-svasā siṁhikā nāma rāhuṁ vipracito ’grahīt SYNONYMS hiraṇyakaśipoḥ—of Hiraṇyakaśipu; bhāryā—the wife; kayādhuḥ—Kayādhu; nāma—named; dānavī—descendant of Danu; jambhasya—of Jambha; tanayā—daughter; sā—she; tu—indeed; suṣuve—gave birth to; caturaḥ—four; sutān—sons; saṁhrādam—Saṁhlāda; prāk—first; anuhrādam—Anuhlāda; hrādam—Hlāda; prahrādam—Prahlāda; eva—also; ca—and; tat-svasā—his sister; siṁhikā—Siṁhikā; nāma—named; rāhum—Rāhu; vipracitaḥ—from Vipracit; agrahīt—received.
TRANSLATION The wife of Hiraṇyakaśipu was known as Kayādhu. She was the daughter of Jambha and a descendant of Danu. She gave birth to four consecutive sons, known as Saṁhlāda, Anuhlāda, Hlāda and Prahlāda. The sister of these four sons was known as Siṁhikā. She married the demon named Vipracit and gave birth to another demon, named Rāhu. SB6.18.14 TEXT 14 śiro ’harad yasya hariś cakreṇa pibato ’mṛtam saṁhrādasya kṛtir bhāryā- sūta pañcajanaṁ tataḥ SYNONYMS śiraḥ—the head; aharat—cut off; yasya—of whom; hariḥ—Hari; cakreṇa—with the disc; pibataḥ—drinking; amṛtam—nectar; saṁhrādasya—of Saṁhlāda; kṛtiḥ—Kṛti; bhāryā—the wife; asūta—gave birth to; pañcajanam—Pañcajana; tataḥ—from him.
TRANSLATION While Rāhu, in disguise, was drinking nectar among the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead severed his head. The wife of Saṁhlāda was named Kṛti. By union with Saṁhlāda, Kṛti gave birth to a son named Pañcajana. SB6.18.15 TEXT 15 hrādasya dhamanir bhāryā- sūta vātāpim ilvalam yo ’gastyāya tv atithaye pece vātāpim ilvalaḥ SYNONYMS hrādasya—of Hlāda; dhamaniḥ—Dhamani; bhāryā—the wife; asūta—gave birth to; vātāpim—Vātāpi; ilvalam—Ilvala; yaḥ—he who; agastyāya—to Agastya; tu—but; atithaye—his guest; pece—cooked; vātāpim—Vātāpi; ilvalaḥ—Ilvala.
TRANSLATION The wife of Hlāda was named Dhamani. She gave birth to two sons, named Vātāpi and Ilvala. When Agastya Muni became Ilvala’s guest, Ilvala served him a feast by cooking Vātāpi, who was in the shape of a ram. SB6.18.16 TEXT 16 anuhrādasya sūryāyāṁ bāṣkalo mahiṣas tathā virocanas tu prāhrādir devyāṁ tasyābhavad baliḥ SYNONYMS anuhrādasya—of Anuhlāda; sūryāyām—through Sūryā; bāṣkalaḥ—Bāṣkala; mahiṣaḥ—Mahiṣa; tathā—also; virocanaḥ—Virocana; tu—indeed; prāhrādiḥ—the son of Prahlāda; devyām—through his wife; tasya—of him; abhavat—was; baliḥ—Bali.
TRANSLATION The wife of Anuhlāda was named Sūryā. She gave birth to two sons, named Bāṣkala and Mahiṣa. Prahlāda had one son, Virocana, whose wife gave birth to Bali Mahārāja. SB6.18.17 TEXT 17 bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaṁ putra-śatam aśanāyāṁ tato ’bhavat tasyānubhāvaṁ suślokyaṁ paścād evābhidhāsyate SYNONYMS bāṇa-jyeṣṭham—having Bāṇa as the eldest; putra-śatam—one hundred sons; aśanāyām—through Aśanā; tataḥ—from him; abhavat—there were; tasya—his; anubhāvam—character; su-ślokyam—laudable; paścāt—later; eva—certainly; abhidhāsyate—will be described.
TRANSLATION Thereafter, Bali Mahārāja begot one hundred sons in the womb of Aśanā. Of these one hundred sons, King Bāṇa was the eldest. The activities of Bali Mahārāja, which are very laudable, will be described later [in the Eighth Canto]. SB6.18.18 TEXT 18 bāṇa ārādhya giriśaṁ lebhe tad-gaṇa-mukhyatām yat-pārśve bhagavān āste hy adyāpi pura-pālakaḥ SYNONYMS bāṇaḥ—Bāṇa; ārādhya—having worshiped; giriśam—Lord Śiva; lebhe—obtained; tat—of him (Lord Śiva); gaṇa-mukhyatām—the platform of being one of the chief associates; yat-pārśve—beside whom; bhagavān—Lord Śiva; āste—remains; hi—because of which; adya—now; api—even; pura-pālakaḥ—the protector of the capital.
TRANSLATION Since King Bāṇa was a great worshiper of Lord Śiva, he became one of Lord Śiva’s most celebrated associates. Even now, Lord Śiva protects King Bāṇa’s capital and always stands beside him. SB6.18.19 TEXT 19 marutaś ca diteḥ putrāś catvāriṁśan navādhikāḥ ta āsann aprajāḥ sarve nītā indreṇa sātmatām SYNONYMS marutaḥ—the Maruts; ca—and; diteḥ—of Diti; putrāḥ—sons; catvāriṁśat—forty; nava-adhikāḥ—plus nine; te—they; āsan—were; aprajāḥ—without sons; sarve—all; nītāḥ—were brought; indreṇa—by Indra; sa-ātmatām—to the position of demigods.
TRANSLATION The forty-nine Marut demigods were also born from the womb of Diti. None of them had sons. Although they were born of Diti, King Indra gave them a position as demigods. PURPORT Apparently even demons can be elevated to positions as demigods when their atheistic character is reformed. There are two kinds of men throughout the universe. Those who are devotees of Lord Viṣṇu are called demigods, and those who are just the opposite are called demons. Even the demons can be transformed into demigods, as the statement of this verse proves.
SB6.18.20 TEXT 20 śrī-rājovāca kathaṁ ta āsuraṁ bhāvam apohyautpattikaṁ guro indreṇa prāpitāḥ sātmyaṁ kiṁ tat sādhu kṛtaṁ hi taiḥ SYNONYMS śrī-rājā uvāca—King Parīkṣit said; katham—why; te—they; āsuram—demoniac; bhāvam—mentality; apohya—giving up; autpattikam—due to birth; guro—my dear lord; indreṇa—by Indra; prāpitāḥ—were converted; sa-ātmyam—to demigods; kim—whether; tat—therefore; sādhu—pious activities; kṛtam—performed; hi—indeed; taiḥ—by them.
TRANSLATION King Parīkṣit inquired: My dear lord, due to their birth, the forty-nine Maruts must have been obsessed with a demoniac mentality. Why did Indra, the King of heaven, convert them into demigods? Did they perform any rituals or pious activities? SB6.18.21 TEXT 21 ime śraddadhate brahmann ṛṣayo hi mayā saha parijñānāya bhagavaṁs tan no vyākhyātum arhasi SYNONYMS ime—these; śraddadhate—are eager; brahman—O brāhmaṇa; ṛṣayaḥ—sages; hi—indeed; mayā saha—with me; parijñānāya—to know; bhagavan—O great soul; tat—therefore; naḥ—to us; vyākhyātum arhasi—please explain.
TRANSLATION My dear brāhmaṇa, I and all the sages present with me are eager to know about this. Therefore, O great soul, kindly explain to us the reason. SB6.18.22 TEXT 22 śrī-sūta uvāca tad viṣṇurātasya sa bādarāyaṇir vaco niśamyādṛtam alpam arthavat sabhājayan san nibhṛtena cetasā jagāda satrāyaṇa sarva-darśanaḥ SYNONYMS śrī-sūtaḥ uvāca—Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; tat—those; viṣṇurātasya—of Mahārāja Parīkṣit; saḥ—he; bādarāyaṇiḥ—Śukadeva Gosvāmī; vacaḥ—words; niśamya—hearing; ādṛtam—respectful; alpam—brief; artha-vat—meaningful; sabhājayan san—praising; nibhṛtena cetasā—with great pleasure; jagāda—replied; satrāyaṇa—O Śaunaka; sarva-darśanaḥ—who is aware of everything.
TRANSLATION Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: O great sage Śaunaka, after hearing Mahārāja Parīkṣit speak respectfully and briefly on topics essential to hear, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was well aware of everything, praised his endeavor with great pleasure and replied. PURPORT Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s question was very much appreciated by Śukadeva Gosvāmī because although it was composed of a small number of words, it contained meaningful inquiries about how the sons of Diti, although born as demons, became demigods. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura stresses that even though Diti was very envious, her heart was purified because of a devotional attitude. Another significant topic is that although Kaśyapa Muni was a learned scholar and was advanced in spiritual consciousness, he nonetheless fell a victim to the inducement of his beautiful wife. All these questions were posed in a small number of words, and therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī very much appreciated Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiry.
SB6.18.23 TEXT 23 śrī-śuka uvāca hata-putrā ditiḥ śakra- pārṣṇi-grāheṇa viṣṇunā manyunā śoka-dīptena jvalantī paryacintayat SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; hata-putrā—whose sons were killed; ditiḥ—Diti; śakra-pārṣṇi-grāheṇa—who was helping Lord Indra; viṣṇunā—by Lord Viṣṇu; manyunā—with anger; śoka-dīptena—kindled by lamentation; jvalantī—burning; paryacintayat—thought.
TRANSLATION Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Just to help Indra, Lord Viṣṇu killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Because of their being killed, their mother, Diti, overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, contemplated as follows. SB6.18.24 TEXT 24 kadā nu bhrātṛ-hantāram indriyārāmam ulbaṇam aklinna-hṛdayaṁ pāpaṁ ghātayitvā śaye sukham SYNONYMS kadā—when; nu—indeed; bhrātṛ-hantāram—the killer of the brothers; indriya-ārāmam—very fond of sense gratification; ulbaṇam—cruel; aklinna-hṛdayam—hard hearted; pāpam—sinful; ghātayitvā—having caused to be killed; śaye—shall I rest; sukham—happily.
TRANSLATION Lord Indra, who is very much fond of sense gratification, has killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu by means of Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore Indra is cruel, hardhearted and sinful. When will I, having killed him, rest with a pacified mind? SB6.18.25 TEXT 25 kṛmi-viḍ-bhasma-saṁjñāsīd yasyeśābhihitasya ca bhūta-dhruk tat-kṛte svārthaṁ kiṁ veda nirayo yataḥ SYNONYMS kṛmi—worms; viṭ—stool; bhasma—ashes; saṁjñā—name; āsīt—becomes; yasya—of which (body); īśa-abhihitasya—although designated as king; ca—also; bhūta-dhruk—he who harms others; tat-kṛte—for the sake of that; sva-artham—his self-interest; kim veda—does he know; nirayaḥ—punishment in hell; yataḥ—from which.
TRANSLATION When dead, the bodies of all the rulers known as kings and great leaders will be transformed into worms, stool or ashes. If one enviously kills others for the protection of such a body, does he actually know the true interest of life? Certainly he does not, for if one is envious of other entities, he surely goes to hell. PURPORT The material body, even if possessed by a great king, is ultimately transformed into stool, worms or ashes. When one is too attached to the bodily conception of life, he is certainly not very intelligent.
SB6.18.26 TEXT 26 āśāsānasya tasyedaṁ dhruvam unnaddha-cetasaḥ mada-śoṣaka indrasya bhūyād yena suto hi me SYNONYMS āśāsānasya—thinking; tasya—of him; idam—this (body); dhruvam—eternal; unnaddha-cetasaḥ—whose mind is unrestrained; mada-śoṣakaḥ—who can remove the madness; indrasya—of Indra; bhūyāt—may there be; yena—by which; sutaḥ—a son; hi—certainly; me—of me.
TRANSLATION Diti thought: Indra considers his body eternal, and thus he has become unrestrained. I therefore wish to have a son who can remove Indra’s madness. Let me adopt some means to help me in this. PURPORT One who is in the bodily conception of life is compared in the śāstras to animals like cows and asses. Diti wanted to punish Indra, who had become like a lower animal.
SB6.18.27-28 TEXTS 27–28 iti bhāvena sā bhartur ācacārāsakṛt priyam śuśrūṣayānurāgeṇa praśrayeṇa damena ca bhaktyā paramayā rājan manojñair valgu-bhāṣitaiḥ mano jagrāha bhāva-jñā sasmitāpāṅga-vīkṣaṇaiḥ SYNONYMS iti—thus; bhāvena—with the intention; sā—she; bhartuḥ—of the husband; ācacāra—performed; asakṛt—constantly; priyam—pleasing activities; śuśrūṣayā—with service; anurāgeṇa—with love; praśrayeṇa—with humility; damena—with self-control; ca—also; bhaktyā—with devotion; paramayā—great; rājan—O King; manojñaiḥ—charming; valgu-bhāṣitaiḥ—with sweet words; manaḥ—his mind; jagrāha—brought under her control; bhāva-jñā—knowing his nature; sa-smita—with smiling; apāṅga-vīkṣaṇaiḥ—by glancing.
TRANSLATION Thinking in this way [with a desire for a son to kill Indra], Diti began constantly acting to satisfy Kaśyapa by her pleasing behavior. O King, Diti always carried out Kaśyapa’s orders very faithfully, as he desired. With service, love, humility and control, with words spoken very sweetly to satisfy her husband, and with smiles and glances at him, Diti attracted his mind and brought it under her control. PURPORT When a woman wants to endear herself to her husband and make him very faithful, she must try to please him in all respects. When the husband is pleased with his wife, the wife can receive all necessities, ornaments and full satisfaction for her senses. Herein this is indicated by the behavior of Diti.
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bhūtānām īśvaro ’pi san
prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya
sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā