Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 45
Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts
श्रीकश्यप उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता भद्रे इन्द्रहादेवबान्धव: । संवत्सरं व्रतमिदं यद्यञ्जो धारयिष्यसि ॥ ४५ ॥
śrī-kaśyapa uvāca putras te bhavitā bhadre indra-hādeva-bāndhavaḥ saṁvatsaraṁ vratam idaṁ yady añjo dhārayiṣyasi
Śrī Kaśyapa dit : Ô douce épouse, si tu observes ce vœu selon mes instructions pendant une année entière, tu obtiendras assurément un fils capable de tuer Indra ; mais si tu t’écartes de ce vœu et des principes vaiṣṇava, tu auras un fils favorable à Indra, allié des devas.
The word indra-hā refers to an asura who is always eager to kill Indra. An enemy of Indra is naturally a friend to the asuras, but the word indra-hā also refers to one who follows Indra or who is obedient to him. When one becomes a devotee of Indra, he is certainly a friend to the demigods. Thus the words indra-hādeva-bāndhavaḥ are equivocal, for they say, “Your son will kill Indra, but he will be very friendly to the demigods.” If a person actually became a friend of the demigods, he certainly would not be able to kill Indra.
FAQs
This verse states that if the prescribed vow is maintained faithfully for one year, it can yield a specific destined result—in this context, the birth of a powerful son.
Kaśyapa foretells a complex destiny: the child would oppose Indra (thus “indrahā”) yet still be connected to and beneficial for the devas (“deva-bāndhavaḥ”), showing how karmic outcomes can be multifaceted.
Commit to a clear spiritual practice for a fixed period with steadiness and integrity; consistent observance builds focus, self-control, and spiritual strength, rather than impulsive, short-lived effort.