Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 2

Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa

Devanagari script

दितिस्तु भर्तुरादेशादपत्यपरिशङ्किनी । पूर्णे वर्षशते साध्वी पुत्रौ प्रसुषुवे यमौ ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

ditis tu bhartur ādeśād apatya-pariśaṅkinī pūrṇe varṣa-śate sādhvī putrau prasuṣuve yamau

Translation

Nàng Diti hiền đức, do mệnh lệnh và lời tiên đoán của chồng, vô cùng lo sợ rằng những đứa con trong bụng sẽ gây tai họa cho chư thiên. Sau trọn một trăm năm mang thai, nàng sinh ra hai con trai song sinh.

Synonyms

• ditiḥ: Diti
• ditiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात), adversative

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādeśāt: from the instruction/command
• ādeśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• apatya-pariśaṅkinī: anxious about (her) offspring
• apatya-pariśaṅkinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apatya (प्रातिपदिक) + pari-śaṅkinī (प्रातिपदिक; √śaṅk ‘to suspect/fear’ + inī)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: apatyasya pariśaṅkā = anxious/suspicious about offspring; viśeṣaṇa of ditiḥ

• pūrṇe: when completed
• pūrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √pṝ ‘to fill’ + क्त)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with varṣa-śate (locative)

• varṣa-śate: in (the period of) a hundred years
• varṣa-śate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु-समासः: śataṁ varṣāṇām = a hundred years

• sādhvī: the virtuous lady
• sādhvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ditiḥ

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• prasuṣuve: gave birth
• prasuṣuve: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yamau: twins
• yamau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); in apposition to putrau

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Kaśyapa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Diti giving birth to twins?

This verse states that Diti, though anxious about her children, obeyed Kaśyapa’s instruction, and after a hundred years she gave birth to twin sons.

Why did Diti follow Kaśyapa’s instruction in Bhagavatam Canto 3?

Because she feared the outcome for her offspring and accepted her husband’s directive, showing restraint and adherence to dharma despite her anxiety.

Practical application of self-restraint and obedience to dharma in modern life?

The verse highlights delaying gratification and respecting wise guidance—choices that protect long-term well-being even when one feels pressured or fearful.