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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
6.18.756.18.77

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.76

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Indrasince 6.18.71inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तदिदं मम दौर्जन्यं बालिशस्य महीयसि ।

क्षन्तुमर्हसि मातस्त्वं दिष्ट्या गर्भो मृतोत्थित: ॥ ७६ ॥

tad idaṁ mama daurjanyaṁ

bāliśasya mahīyasi

kṣantum arhasi mātas tvaṁ

diṣṭyā garbho mṛtotthitaḥ

Translation

O my mother, O best of all women, I am a fool. Kindly excuse me for whatever offenses I have committed. Your forty-nine sons have been born unhurt because of your devotional service. As an enemy, I cut them to pieces, but because of your great devotional service they did not die.

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.

Seeking Forgiveness and Honoring Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The speaker calls himself a fool and asks his mother to excuse the offenses he has committed.

  2. 2

    He admits that he acted as an enemy and cut her sons to pieces. He takes responsibility for his harmful actions.

  3. 3

    Her forty-nine sons were born unhurt because of her great devotional service. He acknowledges that devotional service is why they did not die.

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:

Thus he entered her womb and cut her son into forty-nine parts. In this way the forty-nine kinds of air known as the Maruts appeared, but because Diti had performed the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies, all the sons became Vaiṣṇavas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat
  2. idamthis
  3. mamaof me
  4. daurjanyamevil deed
  5. bāliśasyaa fool
  6. mahīyasiO best of women
  7. kṣantum arhasiplease excuse
  8. mātaḥO mother
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “offenses”

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

Can I honestly acknowledge an offense and humbly ask to be forgiven?

Practice

Offer one sincere apology for a wrong you have done, without making excuses.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeking Forgiveness and Honoring Devotional ServiceThis 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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