Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

लब्ध्वा तदन्तरं शक्रो निद्रापहृतचेतस: । दिते: प्रविष्ट उदरं योगेशो योगमायया ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

labdhvā tad-antaraṁ śakro nidrāpahṛta-cetasaḥ diteḥ praviṣṭa udaraṁ yogeśo yoga-māyayā

Translation

Nhận thấy sơ hở này, Indra, chúa tể của các năng lực huyền bí, đã dùng Yogamaya để thâm nhập vào tử cung của Diti khi bà đang ngủ say.

Synonyms

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having obtained)

• tad-antaram: that opportunity/interval
• tad-antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य अन्तरम् (that opportunity/interval)

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• nidrā-apahṛta-cetasaḥ: of her whose mind was taken by sleep
• nidrā-apahṛta-cetasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक) + apahṛta (कृदन्त; apa-√hṛ/हृ, PPP) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: यस्य चेतः निद्रया अपहृतम् (whose consciousness was carried away by sleep)

• diteḥ: of Diti
• diteḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/entry-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• praviṣṭaḥ: entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (विश्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषणवत् (entered)

• udaram: the womb/belly
• udaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yogeśaḥ: the lord of yoga
• yogeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: योगस्य ईशः (lord/master of yoga)

• yoga-māyayā: by yogic mystic power
• yoga-māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: योगस्य माया (mystic power of yoga)

Purport

A perfectly successful yogī is expert in eight kinds of perfection. By one of them, called aṇimā-siddhi, he can become smaller than an atom, and in that state he can enter anywhere. With this yogic power, Indra entered the womb of Diti while she was pregnant.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Diti

FAQs

Why did Indra enter Diti’s womb in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.18?

This verse states that Indra seized the moment when Diti fell asleep and, using yogic mystic power, entered her womb—an act connected to preventing the birth of a powerful enemy and leading to the later episode involving the Maruts.

What does “yoga-māyā” mean in this Bhagavatam verse?

Here “yoga-māyā” refers to mystic, yogic potency by which Indra could accomplish an extraordinary act—entering Diti’s womb—beyond ordinary physical means.

What practical lesson does this shloka give for spiritual life?

It highlights how a moment of negligence (sleep/forgetfulness) can create vulnerability; therefore, a seeker should cultivate steady awareness, discipline, and protective spiritual habits.