Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

नाधौतपादाप्रयता नार्द्रपादा उदक्शिरा: । शयीत नापराङ्‌नान्यैर्न नग्ना न च सन्ध्ययो: ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

nādhauta-pādāprayatā nārdra-pādā udak-śirāḥ śayīta nāparāṅ nānyair na nagnā na ca sandhyayoḥ

Translation

Ne t’allonge pas sans avoir lavé tes deux pieds et sans t’être purifiée; ne t’allonge pas non plus les pieds mouillés, ni la tête tournée vers le nord ou l’ouest. Ne t’allonge pas nue, ni avec d’autres femmes, ni au moment du lever ou du coucher du soleil.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• adhauta: unwashed
• adhauta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dhauta (कृदन्त; √dhāv/√dhau धो/धाव् + क्त, with negation)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (in compound)

• pādā: with unwashed feet
• pādā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे समासः (adhauta-pādā = ‘with unwashed feet’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aprayatā: unattentive / unrestrained
• aprayatā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prayata (कृदन्त; √yat यत् + क्त, with negation)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ārdra: wet
• ārdra: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (in compound)

• pādā: with wet feet
• pādā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे समासः (ārdra-pādā = ‘with wet feet’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• udak: water / north (udak = northern)
• udak: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udak(a) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• śirāḥ: with head towards the north
• śirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः (udak-śirāḥ = ‘having the head to the north’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with implied strī)

• śayīta: should lie down/sleep
• śayīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (शी)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• aparāṅ: facing west/backwards
• aparāṅ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aparāñc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दिशावाचक (facing west/backward)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• anyaiḥ: with others
• anyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सहकारक (instrumental of association)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• nagnā: naked
• nagnā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sandhyayoḥ: at the two twilights (dawn and dusk)
• sandhyayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (genitive/locative dual); here locative sense ‘at the two twilights’

Characters & Entities

• Kaśyapa
• Diti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about rules to follow during sandhya (dawn and dusk)?

This verse advises avoiding sleeping during the two sandhyās and maintaining purity and proper conduct, treating these junction times as spiritually significant.

Why did Kashyapa Muni give these instructions to Diti in Canto 6?

Diti sought a boon and observance for her purpose; Kaśyapa therefore prescribed disciplined conduct and purity rules so the vow would be properly protected and spiritually regulated.

Practical application of this shloka’s guidance in modern life?

Keep personal cleanliness before rest, maintain respectful marital boundaries, and reserve dawn/dusk for calmness, prayer, or mindful routine rather than indulgence or negligence.