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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
6.18.616.18.63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.62

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

चकर्त सप्तधा गर्भं वज्रेण कनकप्रभम् ।

रुदन्तं सप्तधैकैकं मा रोदीरिति तान् पुन: ॥ ६२ ॥

cakarta saptadhā garbhaṁ

vajreṇa kanaka-prabham

rudantaṁ saptadhaikaikaṁ

mā rodīr iti tān punaḥ

Translation

After entering Diti’s womb, Indra, with the help of his thunderbolt, cut into seven pieces her embryo, which appeared like glowing gold. In seven places, seven different living beings began crying. Indra told them, “Do not cry,” and then he cut each of them into seven pieces again.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Many Living Entities Enter Separate Bodies

  1. 1

    Indra cut the golden-looking embryo into seven pieces with his thunderbolt. As they cried, he said, “Do not cry,” and cut each into seven again.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Indra’s yogic power expanded the original body of one Marut into seven, and then into forty-nine.

  3. 3

    Other living entities entered the newly formed bodies. The purport compares this to plants that become separate entities when cut into parts and planted.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Indra, by his yogic power, first expanded the body of the one Marut into seven, and then when he cut each of the seven parts of the original body into pieces, there were forty-nine.
  • When each body was cut into seven, other living entities entered the new bodies, and thus they were like plants, which become separate entities when cut into various parts and planted on a hill.

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:

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. cakartahe cut
  2. sapta-dhāinto seven pieces
  3. garbhamthe embryo
  4. vajreṇaby his thunderbolt
  5. kanakaof gold
  6. prabhamwhich had the appearance
  7. rudantamcrying
  8. sapta-dhāinto seven pieces
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “crying”, “cried”

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

How does the purport distinguish the newly formed bodies from the living entities entering them?

Practice

Reread the plant comparison and write one sentence explaining it in your own words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMany Living Entities Enter Separate BodiesThis 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 6.18.62? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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