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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
6.18.536.18.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.54

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 6.18.54inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सांवत्सरं पुंसवनं व्रतमेतदविप्लुतम् ।

धारयिष्यसि चेत्तुभ्यं शक्रहा भविता सुत: ॥ ५४ ॥

sāṁvatsaraṁ puṁsavanaṁ

vratam etad aviplutam

dhārayiṣyasi cet tubhyaṁ

śakra-hā bhavitā sutaḥ

Translation

Kaśyapa Muni continued: If you perform this ceremony called puṁsavana, adhering to the vow with faith for at least one year, you will give birth to a son destined to kill Indra. But if there is any discrepancy in the discharge of this vow, the son will be a friend to Indra.

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.

Faithful Observance Shapes the Promised Result

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa Muni named the ceremony puṁsavana. Diti was to observe its vow with faith for at least one year.

  2. 2

    He said that observing the vow without discrepancy would bring a son destined to kill Indra.

  3. 3

    If there were any discrepancy, the son would instead become Indra’s friend. The two possible outcomes depended on how Diti discharged the vow.

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:

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāṁvatsaramfor one year
  2. puṁsavanamcalled puṁsavana
  3. vratamvow
  4. etatthis
  5. aviplutamwithout violation
  6. dhārayiṣyasiyou will perform
  7. cetif
  8. tubhyamfor you
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “friend”

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

Am I attentive to the details of commitments I have accepted?

Practice

Check one commitment today and carefully carry out a detail you might otherwise overlook.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFaithful Observance Shapes the Promised ResultThis 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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