Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

मातृष्वसुरभिप्रायमिन्द्र आज्ञाय मानद । शुश्रूषणेनाश्रमस्थां दितिं पर्यचरत्कवि: ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mātṛ-ṣvasur abhiprāyam indra ājñāya mānada śuśrūṣaṇenāśrama-sthāṁ ditiṁ paryacarat kaviḥ

Translation

万人を敬う王よ、インドラは叔母ディティの意図を悟り、自らの利のために策をめぐらした。そこで彼は、アーシュラマに住むディティに仕え、手厚く奉仕した。

Synonyms

• मातृष्वसुः: (his) maternal aunt
• मातृष्वसुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वसृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘mother’s sister’; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• अभिप्रायम्: intention
• अभिप्रायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिप्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• आज्ञाय: having learned
• आज्ञाय: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having known/understood’

• मानद: O giver of honor (O king)
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन; (address to king)

• शुश्रूषणेन: by service/attendance
• शुश्रूषणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• आश्रमस्थाम्: staying in the hermitage
• आश्रमस्थाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Diti): ‘dwelling in the hermitage’

• दितिम्: Diti
• दितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• पर्यचरत्: he attended/served
• पर्यचरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कविः: the wise one
• कविः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet of Indra)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Diti

FAQs

Why did Indra serve Diti in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 18?

Indra understood Diti’s intention to obtain a son who would harm him, so he stayed near her and served her attentively, watching for any lapse that could disrupt her vow.

What does this verse teach about shushrushana (attentive service) in the Bhagavata Purana?

It shows that careful, respectful service can be both a dharmic duty and a means of maintaining awareness, discipline, and protection in spiritually sensitive situations.

How can the lesson of this shloka be applied in modern life?

Serve elders and dependents with sincerity and alertness, and when facing risk or temptation, stay disciplined and close to supportive, dharmic routines rather than acting carelessly.