Shloka 38
Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line
Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha
कश्यप उवाच अप्रायत्यादात्मनस्ते दोषान्मौहूर्तिकादुत । मन्निदेशातिचारेण देवानां चातिहेलनात् ॥ ३८ ॥
kaśyapa uvāca aprāyatyād ātmanas te doṣān mauhūrtikād uta man-nideśāticāreṇa devānāṁ cātihelanāt
Sinabi ng pantas na si Kaśyapa: Dahil sa pagkadumi ng iyong isipan, dahil sa karumihan ng partikular na oras na ito, dahil sa iyong pagpapabaya sa aking mga tagubilin, at dahil sa iyong kawalan ng galang sa mga demigod, ang lahat ay naging malas.
The conditions for having good progeny in society are that the husband should be disciplined in religious and regulative principles and the wife should be faithful to the husband. In Bhagavad-gītā (7.11) it is said that sexual intercourse according to religious principles is a representation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Before engaging in sexual intercourse, both the husband and the wife must consider their mental condition, the particular time, the husband’s direction, and obedience to the demigods. According to Vedic society, there is a suitable auspicious time for sex life, which is called the time for garbhādhāna. Diti neglected all the principles of scriptural injunction, and therefore, although she was very anxious for auspicious children, she was informed that her children would not be worthy to be the sons of a brāhmaṇa. There is a clear indication herein that a brāhmaṇa’s son is not always a brāhmaṇa. Personalities like Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu were actually born of brāhmaṇas, but they were not accepted as brāhmaṇas because their fathers did not follow the regulative principles for their birth. Such children are called demons, or Rākṣasas. There were only one or two Rākṣasas in the previous ages due to negligence of the disciplinary methods, but during the Age of Kali there is no discipline in sex life. How, then, can one expect good children? Certainly unwanted children cannot be a source of happiness in society, but through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement they can be raised to the human standard by chanting the holy name of God. That is the unique contribution of Lord Caitanya to human society.
FAQs
This verse states that faults arise when one oversteps a rightful instruction, especially when it leads to irreverence toward the demigods; restraint and obedience to dharmic guidance protect one from such reactions.
In the narrative, Diti pressed for union at an improper time; Kaśyapa points out that the resulting fault came from a lapse of restraint and from crossing his directive, compounded by disrespect toward the devas.
Practice self-restraint during impulsive moments, honor wise counsel and boundaries, and avoid contempt toward sacred institutions or worthy persons—since disrespect and undisciplined action create avoidable consequences.