Shloka 35
Daitya–Dānava Vaṁśa, Kaśyapa’s Progeny, and the Birth of the Maruts
गर्भम् आत्मवधार्थाय ज्ञात्वा तं मघवान् अपि शुश्रूषुस् ताम् अथागच्छद् विनयाद् अमराधिपः
garbham ātmavadhārthāya jñātvā taṃ maghavān api śuśrūṣus tām athāgacchad vinayād amarādhipaḥ
Knowing that the child in her womb had been conceived for the very purpose of his own destruction, even Maghavan (Indra), lord of the immortals, approached her—humble and deferential—seeking to serve her.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Why Indra approaches Diti with humility despite being threatened by her pregnancy.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Even the powerful must adopt humility and service when confronted with the force of tapas and destiny.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When threatened, respond with restraint, respect, and constructive service rather than rash aggression.
Vishishtadvaita: Power (aiśvarya) is subordinate to the Lord’s moral order; humility aligns the jīva with that order.
Bhakti Type: dasya
FAQs
It shows that even the king of the gods becomes subject to destiny and responds with strategy—using service and deference when direct power cannot avert a foretold threat.
Through the motif of a destined birth, Parāśara frames how karmic inevitability and cosmic order can compel even celestial rulers to act cautiously within dharma and circumstance.
Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, the episode reflects the Purana’s worldview: all powers—including Indra—operate under a higher, stabilizing sovereignty ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the supreme regulator of cosmic order.