Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

कदा नु भ्रातृहन्तारमिन्द्रियाराममुल्बणम् । अक्लिन्नहृदयं पापं घातयित्वा शये सुखम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kadā nu bhrātṛ-hantāram indriyārāmam ulbaṇam aklinna-hṛdayaṁ pāpaṁ ghātayitvā śaye sukham

Translation

Lord Indra, who is very much fond of sense gratification, has killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu by means of Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore Indra is cruel, hardhearted and sinful. When will I, having killed him, rest with a pacified mind?

Synonyms

• कदा: when
• कदा: Prashna (प्रश्न/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक कालवाचक (interrogative adverb of time)

• नु: indeed/then (particle)
• नु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (interrogative/emphatic particle)

• भ्रातृ-हन्तारम्: the slayer of (my) brother
• भ्रातृ-हन्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भ्रातॄणां हन्ता = ‘slayer of brothers’)

• इन्द्रिय-आरामम्: one who revels in sense-pleasures
• इन्द्रिय-आरामम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘one who delights in the senses’), विशेषणम् (भ्रातृहन्तारम्)

• उल्बणम्: wicked/violent
• उल्बणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उल्बण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अक्लिन्न-हृदयम्: hard-hearted
• अक्लिन्न-हृदयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (‘whose heart is not softened’)

• पापम्: sinful
• पापम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• घातयित्वा: having killed
• घातयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (णिच् causative of हन्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), causative; ‘having caused to be killed / having slain’

• शये: I shall lie/rest
• शये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुखम्: happily/in comfort
• सुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner)

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Indra

FAQs

Why does Diti want to kill Indra in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.18?

Diti burns with grief and anger because Indra killed her son (whom she calls her “brother’s killer”), and she believes only Indra’s death will bring her peace.

What does “indriyārāmam” mean in this Bhagavatam verse?

“Indriyārāmam” describes one who takes pleasure in the senses—suggesting a life driven by sense-gratification rather than softened by remorse or higher dharma.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It warns that unresolved grief and anger can turn into revenge-minded obsession; a devotee seeks inner peace through self-control, prayer, and dharmic action rather than retaliation.