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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe
3.17.13.17.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.2

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.17.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

दितिस्तु भर्तुरादेशादपत्यपरिशङ्किनी ।

पूर्णे

वर्षशते साध्वी पुत्रौ प्रसुषुवे यमौ ॥ २ ॥

ditis tu bhartur ādeśād

apatya-pariśaṅkinī

pūrṇe varṣa-śate sādhvī

putrau prasuṣuve yamau

Translation

The virtuous lady Diti had been very apprehensive of trouble to the gods from the children in her womb, and her husband predicted the same. She brought forth twin sons after a full one hundred years of pregnancy.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Diti Fears Trouble From Her Children

  1. 1

    Diti is described as a virtuous lady, yet she was apprehensive about the children in her womb.

  2. 2

    She feared that her children would trouble the gods. Her husband had predicted the same.

  3. 3

    After a full one hundred years of pregnancy, Diti gave birth to twin sons.

How it feels

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe

Terrible omens accompany the demons’ appearance, and Hiraṇyākṣa spreads fear through his strength and pride.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ditiḥDiti
  2. tubut
  3. bhartuḥof her husband
  4. ādeśātby the order
  5. apatyafrom her children
  6. pariśaṅkinībeing apprehensive of trouble
  7. pūrṇefull
  8. varṣa-śateafter one hundred years
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “children”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “feared”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Diti’s concern reveal about her attitude toward the gods?

Practice

Reread the translation and write one sentence describing Diti’s concern.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDiti Fears Trouble From Her ChildrenThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.17.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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