Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 23

Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच हतपुत्रा दिति: शक्रपार्ष्णिग्राहेण विष्णुना । मन्युना शोकदीप्तेन ज्वलन्ती पर्यचिन्तयत् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca hata-putrā ditiḥ śakra- pārṣṇi-grāheṇa viṣṇunā manyunā śoka-dīptena jvalantī paryacintayat

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Just to help Indra, Lord Viṣṇu killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Because of their being killed, their mother, Diti, overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, contemplated as follows.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीः + शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हत-पुत्रा: whose sons were slain
• हत-पुत्रा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘हताः पुत्राः यस्याः सा’—contextually bahuvrīhi-like sense, but form as tatpurusha ‘slain-sons’ qualifying ditiḥ)

• दितिः: Diti
• दितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शक्र-पार्ष्णि-ग्राहेण: by the grasp of Indra’s heel
• शक्र-पार्ष्णि-ग्राहेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + पार्ष्णि + ग्राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शक्रस्य पार्ष्णेः ग्राहः = ‘the grasping of Indra’s heel’)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• मन्युना: with anger
• मन्युना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• शोक-दीप्तेन: blazing with grief
• शोक-दीप्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + दीप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘shining/blazing with grief’), विशेषणम् (मन्युना)

• ज्वलन्ती: burning (with rage)
• ज्वलन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘burning’

• पर्यचिन्तयत्: she contemplated
• पर्यचिन्तयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Diti
• Indra (Śakra)
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

Why was Diti burning with grief and anger in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.18.23?

Because she had lost her sons, and that grief flared into wrath as she contemplated Viṣṇu supporting Indra, deepening her sense of hurt and opposition.

What does it mean that Viṣṇu seized Indra by the heel in this verse?

It indicates Viṣṇu’s close support and protection of Indra (Śakra), portraying the Lord as actively upholding the devas who maintain cosmic order (dharma).

How can this shloka be applied in modern life when facing loss?

It warns that unresolved grief can transform into consuming anger; the practical takeaway is to process sorrow consciously and seek spiritual grounding rather than letting pain harden into resentment.