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

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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
6.18.526.18.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.53

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 6.18.48inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्त्रियो वीरवतीश्चार्चेत्स्रग्गन्धबलिमण्डनै: ।

पतिं चार्च्योपतिष्ठेत ध्यायेत्कोष्ठगतं च तम् ॥ ५३ ॥

striyo vīravatīś cārcet

srag-gandha-bali-maṇḍanaiḥ

patiṁ cārcyopatiṣṭheta

dhyāyet koṣṭha-gataṁ ca tam

Translation

With flower garlands, sandalwood pulp, ornaments and other paraphernalia, a woman following this vow should worship women who have sons and whose husbands are living. The pregnant wife should worship her husband and offer him prayers. She should meditate upon him, thinking that he is situated in her womb.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Family Relationships Within the Vow

  1. 1

    A woman following this vow should worship women who have sons and living husbands. The offerings include flower garlands, sandalwood pulp, and ornaments.

  2. 2

    The pregnant wife should worship her husband and offer him prayers. She should meditate upon him as situated within her womb.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the child is a part of the husband’s body. Through the child as his representative, the husband indirectly remains within his wife’s womb.

Key points from the purport
  • The child in the womb is a part of the husband’s body.
  • Therefore the husband, through his representative, indirectly remains within the womb of his pregnant wife.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. striyaḥwomen
  2. vīra-vatīḥpossessing husbands and sons
  3. caand
  4. arcetshe should worship
  5. srakwith garlands
  6. gandhasandalwood
  7. balipresentations
  8. maṇḍanaiḥand with ornaments
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “child”

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 care and respect do I bring to my family relationships?

Practice

Offer one small gesture of respect to a family member today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Family Relationships Within the VowThis 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.

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