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Shloka 69

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

अथेन्द्रमाह ताताहमादित्यानां भयावहम् । अपत्यमिच्छन्त्यचरं व्रतमेतत्सुदुष्करम् ॥ ६९ ॥

athendram āha tātāham ādityānāṁ bhayāvaham apatyam icchanty acaraṁ vratam etat suduṣkaram

ਫਿਰ ਦਿਤੀ ਨੇ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ—ਪੁੱਤਰ! ਮੈਂ ਆਦਿਤਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਡਰ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਸੀ। ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਬਾਰਾਂ ਆਦਿਤਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਮੈਂ ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਦੁਸ਼ਕਰ ਵਰਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ।

athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormDiscourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय)
indramto Indra
indram:
Karma (कर्म/object of āha)
TypeNoun
Rootindra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
āhasaid
āha:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootah (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
tātadear son
tāta:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
TypeNoun
Roottāta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied ‘asmi’)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
ādityānāmof the Ādityas
ādityānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of whom fear is caused)
TypeNoun
Rootāditya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
bhaya-āvahambringing fear
bhaya-āvaham:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/predicative of aham)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from ā-√vah)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘bhayaṁ āvahati’ = ‘bringing fear’; agrees with implied ‘aham (as) ...’
apatyamoffspring
apatyam:
Karma (कर्म/object of icchanti)
TypeNoun
Rootapatya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
icchantithey desire
icchanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootiṣ (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
acaramunmoving/strict (not to be violated)
acaram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/of vratam)
TypeAdjective
Roota-cara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying vratam
vratamvow
vratam:
Karma (कर्म/object; implied ‘carāmi/āsthāsyāmi’ or in apposition to apatyam-icchanti context)
TypeNoun
Rootvrata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
etatthis
etat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/of vratam)
TypeAdjective
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative adjective qualifying vratam
su-duṣkaramvery difficult
su-duṣkaram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/of vratam)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (अव्यय) + duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: ‘su’ intensifier + duṣkara ‘hard to do’; qualifies vratam
I
Indra
D
Diti
A
Adityas

FAQs

This verse shows that a sincere and difficult vow—especially celibacy and sense-restraint—creates formidable spiritual potency, so much so that even the Ādityas become fearful of its results.

In the narrative, Indra serves Diti respectfully during her vow; acknowledging that dharmic service, she addresses him affectionately as “tāta,” even while admitting her intent to produce a child who would threaten the Ādityas.

By adopting disciplined sense-control—faithfully keeping one’s commitments, avoiding impulsive indulgence, and channeling energy into prayer and purposeful work—one gains clarity, strength, and steadiness in spiritual practice.