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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
6.18.576.18.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.58

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 6.18.54inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं तस्या व्रतस्थाया व्रतच्छिद्रं हरिर्नृप ।

प्रेप्सु: पर्यचरज्जिह्मो मृगहेव मृगाकृति: ॥ ५८ ॥

evaṁ tasyā vrata-sthāyā

vrata-cchidraṁ harir nṛpa

prepsuḥ paryacaraj jihmo

mṛga-heva mṛgākṛtiḥ

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, as the hunter of a deer becomes like a deer by covering his body with deerskin and serving the deer, so Indra, although at heart the enemy of the sons of Diti, became outwardly friendly and served Diti in a faithful way. Indra’s purpose was to cheat Diti as soon as he could find some fault in the way she discharged the vows of the ritualistic ceremony. However, he wanted to be undetected, and therefore he served her very carefully.

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.

Outward Friendliness May Hide Deceit

  1. 1

    Indra was outwardly friendly, although at heart he was the enemy of Diti’s sons.

  2. 2

    His behavior is compared to a deer hunter who wears deerskin and serves the deer.

  3. 3

    He served Diti carefully to remain undetected while looking for a fault in her observance of the vows.

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:

When, however, she requested a son who would kill Indra, he condemned himself, and he advised his wife Diti to follow the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies to purify herself. When Diti, following the instructions of Kaśyapa, engaged in devotional service, Indra could understand her purpose, and he began observing all her activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. tasyāḥof her
  3. vrata-sthāyāḥwho was faithfully discharging her vow
  4. vrata-chidrama fault in the execution of the vow
  5. hariḥIndra
  6. nṛpaO King
  7. prepsuḥdesiring to find
  8. paryacaratserved
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friendly”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “king”

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 my friendly actions honestly reflect my intentions?

Practice

Examine one interaction today and set aside any intention to exploit the other person’s mistake.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOutward Friendliness May Hide DeceitThis 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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