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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 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 6 · Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
6.18.236.18.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.24

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.18.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कदा नु भ्रातृहन्तारमिन्द्रियाराममुल्बणम् ।

अक्लिन्नहृदयं पापं घातयित्वा शये सुखम् ॥ २४ ॥

kadā nu bhrātṛ-hantāram

indriyārāmam ulbaṇam

aklinna-hṛdayaṁ pāpaṁ

ghātayitvā śaye sukham

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?

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 Seeks Peace Through Revenge

  1. 1

    Diti blamed Indra for killing her two sons through Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    In her thoughts, she described Indra as fond of sense gratification, cruel, hardhearted and sinful.

  3. 3

    She imagined that having Indra killed would allow her to rest with a peaceful mind. This was Diti’s expectation, not an assurance that revenge brings peace.

How it feels

Resentment and resolve → Constraint and consequence. Family conflict frames a test of intention.

Chapters 18–19 of Canto 6: Diti's vow and discipline. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kadāwhen
  2. nuindeed
  3. bhrātṛ-hantāramthe killer of the brothers
  4. indriya-ārāmamvery fond of sense gratification
  5. ulbaṇamcruel
  6. aklinna-hṛdayamhard hearted
  7. pāpamsinful
  8. ghātayitvāhaving caused to be killed
  9. śayeshall I rest
  10. sukhamhappily
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Do I ever imagine that another person’s suffering will bring me peace?

Practice

Notice one resentful thought today and examine the peace you expect from it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.18's connections

Live this todayDiti Seeks Peace Through RevengeThis 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 6.18.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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