Canto 3: The Status Quo
SB3.14

Canto 3 · Chapter 14 · 51 verses · 1 story

Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

Diti desires sons, her husband performs a forbidden act, and their sons’ destruction by the Lord is foretold.

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Connected storiesDakṣaPrahlāda MahārājaDhruva MahārājaHiraṇyakaśipu
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Diti, Kaśyapa

The story · Distressed by the prosperity of her co-wives, Diti asked her husband for sons. He tried to pacify her with suitable words, but eventually performed the forbidden act with her in a secluded place. Their sons’ destruction by the Supreme Personality of Godhead was foretold. Knowing that the sons within her womb would disturb the demigods, Diti carried them for one hundred years.

What it teaches · Diti’s account shows how lust can lead to forbidden action and trouble for others. The Lord who would descend to kill her sons is described as the well-wisher of all living entities.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Lord Śiva explains that false ego produces envy of self-realized persons. Satī identifies envy of Lord Śiva, who is free from enmity, as a grave offense.

In days long ago, our father, the most opulent Dakṣa, who was affectionate to his daughters, asked each of us separately whom we would prefer to select as our husband.

Our well-wishing father, Dakṣa, after knowing our intentions, handed over thirteen of his daughters unto you, and since then we have all been faithful.

Read the story in SB 4.2–4

What it teaches · Prahlāda’s devotion does not depend on his teachers’ approval or his father’s favor. His spiritual understanding makes him equal toward everyone.

Prahlāda Mahārāja was tortured by his father in so many ways, yet after the death of his father he prayed for his father’s liberation by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.46 (Text 46)

Prahlāda Mahārāja, the exemplary devotee of the Lord, had all the good qualities humanly possible.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.49 (Text 49)
Read the story in SB 7.5

What it teaches · Worship of the Lord’s lotus feet can fulfill one’s desires. Dhruva’s regret also shows the illusion of treating family members as enemies.

By hearing these topics from the sage [Nārada], the son of King Uttānapāda [Dhruva] was enlightened regarding the Personality of Godhead, and he ascended to the abode of the Lord, placing his feet over the head of death.

While quitting his body, Mahārāja Dhruva, the son of King Uttānapāda, was attended by personalities like Sunanda and others, who received him in the kingdom of God.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.6 (Text 6)
Read the story in SB 4.8–9

What it teaches · The soul does not die when the body dies. Material association brings meeting and separation, but the living entity is distinct from the changing body.

Personalities like Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu were actually born of brāhmaṇas, but they were not accepted as brāhmaṇas because their fathers did not follow the regulative principles for their birth.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.38 (Text 38)

…Personality of Godhead and your adoration for Lord Śiva and me, one of the sons [Prahlāda] of your son [Hiraṇyakaśipu] will be an approved devotee of the Lord, and his fame will be broadcast equally with that of the Personality of Godhead.

Read the story in SB 7.2

What it teaches · The Supreme Personality of Godhead is without an equal and is merciful to His devotees. The priests approached Him as eternal servants, asking Him to accept their service.

According to Ṛṣabhadeva, one should not become a father or mother unless one is confident that he can beget children whom he can deliver from the clutches of birth and death.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.12 (Text 12)
Read the story in SB 5.3–4

What it teaches · Even great thinkers cannot fully understand the Lord’s plan. Bhīṣmadeva’s final prayers show the goal of fixing the mind upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

It is said by Bhīṣmadeva that all who were present on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra attained their original spiritual existences after death.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.14.5 (Text 5)
Read the story in SB 1.9