Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 53
Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts
स्त्रियो वीरवतीश्चार्चेत्स्रग्गन्धबलिमण्डनै: । पतिं चार्च्योपतिष्ठेत ध्यायेत्कोष्ठगतं च तम् ॥ ५३ ॥
striyo vīravatīś cārcet srag-gandha-bali-maṇḍanaiḥ patiṁ cārcyopatiṣṭheta dhyāyet koṣṭha-gataṁ ca tam
With flower garlands, sandal paste, ornaments, and other offerings, a woman observing this vow should worship women who have sons and whose husbands are living. The pregnant wife should worship her husband, offer prayers, and meditate that he is situated within her womb.
The child in the womb is a part of the husband’s body. Therefore the husband, through his representative, indirectly remains within the womb of his pregnant wife.
FAQs
This verse advises worshiping and respecting virtuous women with garlands, fragrance, offerings, and ornaments, recognizing their purity and auspicious influence in dharmic life.
Diti sought a boon and was instructed in a disciplined vow; honoring saintly women and serving her husband were meant to cultivate purity, self-control, and auspiciousness so the vow would bear the right result.
Show tangible respect to spiritually and ethically exemplary women, cultivate gratitude and service within marriage, and keep a contemplative inner focus rather than acting only from impulse.