Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Eighteen
Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
SB6.18Summary
This chapter gives the history of Diti, the wife of Kasyapa, and how she followed a vow to have a son who would kill Indra. It also describes how Indra attempted to foil her plan by cutting to pieces the son within her womb.
In relation to Tvasta and his descendants, there is a description of the dynasty of the Adityas (sons of Aditi) and other demigods. Prsni, the wife of Aditi’s fifth son named Savita, had three daughters—Savitri, Vyahrti and Trayi—and very exalted sons named Agnihotra, Pasu, Soma, Caturmasya and the five Mahayajnas. Siddhi, the wife of Bhaga, had three sons, named Mahima, Vibhu and Prabhu, and she also had one daughter, whose name was Asi. Dhata had four wives—Kuhu, Sinivali, Raka and Anumati—who had four sons, named Sayam, Darsa, Pratah and Purnamasa respectively. Kriya, the wife of Vidhata, gave birth to the five Purisyas, who are representatives of five kinds of fire-gods. Bhrgu, the mind-born son of Brahma, took his birth again from Carsani, the wife of Varuna, and the great sage Valmiki appeared from Varuna’s semen. Agastya and Vasistha were two sons of Varuna and Mitra. Upon seeing the beauty of Urvasi, Mitra and Varuna discharged semen, which they kept in an earthen pot. From that pot, Agastya and Vasistha appeared. Mitra had a wife named Revati, who gave birth to three sons—Utsarga, Arista and Pippala. Aditi had twelve sons, of whom Indra was the eleventh. Indra’s wife was named Paulomi (Sacidevi). She gave birth to three sons—Jayanta, Rsabha and Midhusa. By His own powers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Vamanadeva. From His wife, whose name was Kirti, appeared a son named Brhatsloka. Brhatsloka’s first son was known as Saubhaga. This is a description of the sons of Aditi. A description of Aditya Urukrama, who is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be offered in the Eighth Canto.
The demons born of Diti are also described in this chapter. In the dynasty of Diti appeared the great saintly devotee Prahlada and also Bali, Prahlada’s grandson. Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa were the first sons of Diti. Hiranyakasipu and his wife, whose name was Kayadhu, had four sons—Samhlada, Anuhlada, Hlada and Prahlada. They also had one daughter, whose name was Simhika. In association with the demon Vipracit, Simhika bore a son named Rahu, whose head was severed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krti, the wife of Samhlada, bore a son named Pancajana. Hlada’s wife, whose name was Dhamani, gave birth to two sons—Vatapi and Ilvala. Ilvala put Vatapi into the form of a ram and gave him to Agastya to eat. Anuhlada, in the womb of his wife, Surya, begot two sons, named Baskala and Mahisa. Prahlada’s son was known as Virocana, and his grandson was known as Bali Maharaja. Bali Maharaja had one hundred sons, of whom Bana was the eldest.
After describing the dynasty of the Adityas and the other demigods, Sukadeva Gosvami describes Diti’s sons known as the Maruts and how they were elevated to the position of demigods. Just to help Indra, Lord Visnu had killed Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. Because of this, Diti was very envious, and she was eager to have a son who could kill Indra. By her service, she enchanted Kasyapa Muni in order to beg from him a greater son to do this. In corroboration of the Vedic injunction vidvamsam api karsati, Kasyapa Muni was attracted to his beautiful wife and promised to grant her any request. When, however, she requested a son who would kill Indra, he condemned himself, and he advised his wife Diti to follow the Vaisnava ritualistic ceremonies to purify herself. When Diti, following the instructions of Kasyapa, engaged in devotional service, Indra could understand her purpose, and he began observing all her activities. One day, Indra had the opportunity to see her deviating from devotional service. Thus he entered her womb and cut her son into forty-nine parts. In this way the forty-nine kinds of air known as the Maruts appeared, but because Diti had performed the Vaisnava ritualistic ceremonies, all the sons became Vaisnavas. SB6.18.1 TEXT 1 sri-suka uvaca prsnis tu patni savituh savitrim vyahrtim trayim agnihotram pasum somam caturmasyam maha-makhan SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; prsnih—Prsni; tu—then; patni—wife; savituh—of Savita; savitrim—Savitri; vyahrtim—Vyahrti; trayim—Trayi; agnihotram—Agnihotra; pasum—Pasu; somam—Soma; caturmasyam—Caturmasya; maha-makhan—the five Mahayajnas. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Prsni, who was the wife of Savita, the fifth of the twelve sons of Aditi, gave birth to three daughters—Savitri, Vyahrti and Trayi—and the sons named Agnihotra, Pasu, Soma, Caturmasya and the five Mahayajnas. SB6.18.2 TEXT 2 siddhir bhagasya bharyanga mahimanam vibhum prabhum asisam ca vararoham kanyam prasuta suvratam SYNONYMS siddhih—Siddhi; bhagasya—of Bhaga; bharya—the wife; anga—my dear King; mahimanam—Mahima; vibhum—Vibhu; prabhum—Prabhu; asisam—Asi; ca—and; vararoham—very beautiful; kanyam—daughter; prasuta—bore; su-vratam—virtuous. TRANSLATION O King, Siddhi, who was the wife of Bhaga, the sixth son of Aditi, bore three sons, named Mahima, Vibhu and Prabhu, and one extremely beautiful daughter, whose name was Asi. SB6.18.3-4 TEXTS 3–4 dhatuh kuhuh sinivali raka canumatis tatha sayam darsam atha pratah purnamasam anukramat agnin purisyan adhatta kriyayam samanantarah carsani varunasyasid yasyam jato bhrguh punah SYNONYMS dhatuh—of Dhata; kuhuh—Kuhu; sinivali—Sinivali; raka—Raka; ca—and; anumatih—Anumati; tatha—also; sayam—Sayam; darsam—Darsa; atha—also; pratah—Pratah; purnamasam—Purnamasa; anukramat—respectively; agnin—fire-gods; purisyan—called the Purisyas; adhatta—begot; kriyayam—in Kriya; samanantarah—the next son, Vidhata; carsani—Carsani; varunasya—of Varuna; asit—was; yasyam—in whom; jatah—took birth; bhrguh—Bhrgu; punah—again. TRANSLATION Dhata, the seventh son of Aditi, had four wives, named Kuhu, Sinivali, Raka and Anumati. These wives begot four sons, named Sayam, Darsa, Pratah and Purnamasa respectively. The wife of Vidhata, the eighth son of Aditi, was named Kriya. In her Vidhata begot the five fire-gods named the Purisyas. The wife of Varuna, the ninth son of Aditi, was named Carsani. Bhrgu, the son of Brahma, took birth again in her womb. SB6.18.5 TEXT 5 valmikis ca maha-yogi valmikad abhavat kila agastyas ca vasisthas ca mitra-varunayor rsi SYNONYMS valmikih—Valmiki; ca—and; maha-yogi—the great mystic; valmikat—from an anthill; abhavat—took birth; kila—indeed; agastyah—Agastya; ca—and; vasisthah—Vasistha; ca—also; mitra-varunayoh—of Mitra and Varuna; rsi—the two sages. TRANSLATION By the semen of Varuna, the great mystic Valmiki took birth from an anthill. Bhrgu and Valmiki were specific sons of Varuna, whereas Agastya and Vasistha Rsis were the common sons of Varuna and Mitra, the tenth son of Aditi. SB6.18.6 TEXT 6 retah sisicatuh kumbhe urvasyah sannidhau drutam revatyam mitra utsargam aristam pippalam vyadhat SYNONYMS retah—semen; sisicatuh—discharged; kumbhe—in an earthen pot; urvasyah—of Urvasi; sannidhau—in the presence; drutam—flown; revatyam—in Revati; mitrah—Mitra; utsargam—Utsarga; aristam—Arista; pippalam—Pippala; vyadhat—begot. TRANSLATION Upon seeing Urvasi, the celestial society girl, both Mitra and Varuna discharged semen, which they preserved in an earthen pot. The two sons Agastya and Vasistha later appeared from that pot, and they are therefore the common sons of Mitra and Varuna. Mitra begot three sons in the womb of his wife, whose name was Revati. Their names were Utsarga, Arista and Pippala. PURPORT Modern science is trying to generate living entities in test tubes by processing semen, but even long, long ago it was possible for semen kept in a pot to develop into a child. SB6.18.7 TEXT 7 paulomyam indra adhatta trin putran iti nah srutam jayantam rsabham tata trtiyam midhusam prabhuh SYNONYMS paulomyam—in Paulomi (Sacidevi); indrah—Indra; adhatta—begot; trin—three; putran—sons; iti—thus; nah—by us; srutam—heard; jayantam—Jayanta; rsabham—Rsabha; tata—my dear King; trtiyam—third; midhusam—Midhusa; prabhuh—the lord. TRANSLATION O King Pariksit, Indra, the King of the heavenly planets and eleventh son of Aditi, begot three sons, named Jayanta, Rsabha and Midhusa, in the womb of his wife, Paulomi. Thus we have heard. SB6.18.8 TEXT 8 urukramasya devasya maya-vamana-rupinah kirtau patnyam brhacchlokas tasyasan saubhagadayah SYNONYMS urukramasya—of Urukrama; devasya—the Lord; maya—by His internal potency; vamana-rupinah—having the form of a dwarf; kirtau—in Kirti; patnyam—His wife; brhacchlokah—Brhatsloka; tasya—of him; asan—were; saubhaga-adayah—sons beginning with Saubhaga. TRANSLATION By His own potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has multifarious potencies, appeared in the form of a dwarf as Urukrama, the twelfth son of Aditi. In the womb of His wife, whose name was Kirti, He begot one son, named Brhatsloka, who had many sons, headed by Saubhaga. PURPORT As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.6): ajo ’pi sann avyayatma “Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.” When the Supreme Personality of Godhead incarnates, He does not need any help from the external energy, for He appears as He is by His own potency. The spiritual potency is also called maya. It is said, ato mayamayam visnum pravadanti manisinah: the body accepted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called mayamaya. This does not mean that He is formed of the external energy; this maya refers to His internal potency. SB6.18.9 TEXT 9 tat-karma-guna-viryani kasyapasya mahatmanah pascad vaksyamahe ’dityam yathaivavatatara ha SYNONYMS tat—His; karma—activities; guna—qualities; viryani—and power; kasyapasya—of the son of Kasyapa; maha-atmanah—the great soul; pascat—later; vaksyamahe—I shall describe; adityam—in Aditi; yatha—how; eva—certainly; avatatara—descended; ha—indeed. TRANSLATION Later [in the Eighth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam] I shall describe how Urukrama, Lord Vamanadeva, appeared as the son of the great sage Kasyapa and how He covered the three worlds with three steps. I shall describe the uncommon activities He performed, His qualities, His power and how He took birth from the womb of Aditi. SB6.18.10 TEXT 10 atha kasyapa-dayadan daiteyan kirtayami te yatra bhagavatah sriman prahrado balir eva ca SYNONYMS atha—now; kasyapa-dayadan—the sons of Kasyapa; daiteyan—born of Diti; kirtayami—I shall describe; te—to you; yatra—where; bhagavatah—the great devotee; sri-man—glorious; prahradah—Prahlada; balih—Bali; eva—certainly; ca—also. TRANSLATION Now let me describe the sons of Diti, who were begotten by Kasyapa but who became demons. In this demoniac family the great devotee Prahlada Maharaja appeared, and Bali Maharaja also appeared in that family. The demons are technically known as Daityas because they proceeded from the womb of Diti. SB6.18.11 TEXT 11 diter dvav eva dayadau daitya-danava-vanditau hiranyakasipur nama hiranyaksas ca kirtitau SYNONYMS diteh—of Diti; dvau—two; eva—certainly; dayadau—sons; daitya-danava—by the Daityas and Danavas; vanditau—worshiped; hiranyakasipuh—Hiranyakasipu; nama—named; hiranyaksah—Hiranyaksa; ca—also; kirtitau—known. TRANSLATION First the two sons named Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa took birth from Diti’s womb. Both of them were very powerful and were worshiped by the Daityas and Danavas. SB6.18.12-13 TEXTS 12–13 hiranyakasipor bharya kayadhur nama danavi jambhasya tanaya sa tu susuve caturah sutan samhradam prag anuhradam hradam prahradam eva ca tat-svasa simhika nama rahum vipracito ’grahit SYNONYMS hiranyakasipoh—of Hiranyakasipu; bharya—the wife; kayadhuh—Kayadhu; nama—named; danavi—descendant of Danu; jambhasya—of Jambha; tanaya—daughter; sa—she; tu—indeed; susuve—gave birth to; caturah—four; sutan—sons; samhradam—Samhlada; prak—first; anuhradam—Anuhlada; hradam—Hlada; prahradam—Prahlada; eva—also; ca—and; tat-svasa—his sister; simhika—Simhika; nama—named; rahum—Rahu; vipracitah—from Vipracit; agrahit—received. TRANSLATION The wife of Hiranyakasipu was known as Kayadhu. She was the daughter of Jambha and a descendant of Danu. She gave birth to four consecutive sons, known as Samhlada, Anuhlada, Hlada and Prahlada. The sister of these four sons was known as Simhika. She married the demon named Vipracit and gave birth to another demon, named Rahu. SB6.18.14 TEXT 14 siro ’harad yasya haris cakrena pibato ’mrtam samhradasya krtir bharya- suta pancajanam tatah SYNONYMS sirah—the head; aharat—cut off; yasya—of whom; harih—Hari; cakrena—with the disc; pibatah—drinking; amrtam—nectar; samhradasya—of Samhlada; krtih—Krti; bharya—the wife; asuta—gave birth to; pancajanam—Pancajana; tatah—from him. TRANSLATION While Rahu, in disguise, was drinking nectar among the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead severed his head. The wife of Samhlada was named Krti. By union with Samhlada, Krti gave birth to a son named Pancajana. SB6.18.15 TEXT 15 hradasya dhamanir bharya- suta vatapim ilvalam yo ’gastyaya tv atithaye pece vatapim ilvalah SYNONYMS hradasya—of Hlada; dhamanih—Dhamani; bharya—the wife; asuta—gave birth to; vatapim—Vatapi; ilvalam—Ilvala; yah—he who; agastyaya—to Agastya; tu—but; atithaye—his guest; pece—cooked; vatapim—Vatapi; ilvalah—Ilvala. TRANSLATION The wife of Hlada was named Dhamani. She gave birth to two sons, named Vatapi and Ilvala. When Agastya Muni became Ilvala’s guest, Ilvala served him a feast by cooking Vatapi, who was in the shape of a ram. SB6.18.16 TEXT 16 anuhradasya suryayam baskalo mahisas tatha virocanas tu prahradir devyam tasyabhavad balih SYNONYMS anuhradasya—of Anuhlada; suryayam—through Surya; baskalah—Baskala; mahisah—Mahisa; tatha—also; virocanah—Virocana; tu—indeed; prahradih—the son of Prahlada; devyam—through his wife; tasya—of him; abhavat—was; balih—Bali. TRANSLATION The wife of Anuhlada was named Surya. She gave birth to two sons, named Baskala and Mahisa. Prahlada had one son, Virocana, whose wife gave birth to Bali Maharaja. SB6.18.17 TEXT 17 bana-jyestham putra-satam asanayam tato ’bhavat tasyanubhavam suslokyam pascad evabhidhasyate SYNONYMS bana-jyestham—having Bana as the eldest; putra-satam—one hundred sons; asanayam—through Asana; tatah—from him; abhavat—there were; tasya—his; anubhavam—character; su-slokyam—laudable; pascat—later; eva—certainly; abhidhasyate—will be described. TRANSLATION Thereafter, Bali Maharaja begot one hundred sons in the womb of Asana. Of these one hundred sons, King Bana was the eldest. The activities of Bali Maharaja, which are very laudable, will be described later [in the Eighth Canto]. SB6.18.18 TEXT 18 bana aradhya girisam lebhe tad-gana-mukhyatam yat-parsve bhagavan aste hy adyapi pura-palakah SYNONYMS banah—Bana; aradhya—having worshiped; girisam—Lord Siva; lebhe—obtained; tat—of him (Lord Siva); gana-mukhyatam—the platform of being one of the chief associates; yat-parsve—beside whom; bhagavan—Lord Siva; aste—remains; hi—because of which; adya—now; api—even; pura-palakah—the protector of the capital. TRANSLATION Since King Bana was a great worshiper of Lord Siva, he became one of Lord Siva’s most celebrated associates. Even now, Lord Siva protects King Bana’s capital and always stands beside him. SB6.18.19 TEXT 19 marutas ca diteh putras catvarimsan navadhikah ta asann aprajah sarve nita indrena satmatam SYNONYMS marutah—the Maruts; ca—and; diteh—of Diti; putrah—sons; catvarimsat—forty; nava-adhikah—plus nine; te—they; asan—were; aprajah—without sons; sarve—all; nitah—were brought; indrena—by Indra; sa-atmatam—to the position of demigods. TRANSLATION The forty-nine Marut demigods were also born from the womb of Diti. None of them had sons. Although they were born of Diti, King Indra gave them a position as demigods. PURPORT Apparently even demons can be elevated to positions as demigods when their atheistic character is reformed. There are two kinds of men throughout the universe. Those who are devotees of Lord Visnu are called demigods, and those who are just the opposite are called demons. Even the demons can be transformed into demigods, as the statement of this verse proves. SB6.18.20 TEXT 20 sri-rajovaca katham ta asuram bhavam apohyautpattikam guro indrena prapitah satmyam kim tat sadhu krtam hi taih SYNONYMS sri-raja uvaca—King Pariksit said; katham—why; te—they; asuram—demoniac; bhavam—mentality; apohya—giving up; autpattikam—due to birth; guro—my dear lord; indrena—by Indra; prapitah—were converted; sa-atmyam—to demigods; kim—whether; tat—therefore; sadhu—pious activities; krtam—performed; hi—indeed; taih—by them. TRANSLATION King Pariksit inquired: My dear lord, due to their birth, the forty-nine Maruts must have been obsessed with a demoniac mentality. Why did Indra, the King of heaven, convert them into demigods? Did they perform any rituals or pious activities? SB6.18.21 TEXT 21 ime sraddadhate brahmann rsayo hi maya saha parijnanaya bhagavams tan no vyakhyatum arhasi SYNONYMS ime—these; sraddadhate—are eager; brahman—O brahmana; rsayah—sages; hi—indeed; maya saha—with me; parijnanaya—to know; bhagavan—O great soul; tat—therefore; nah—to us; vyakhyatum arhasi—please explain. TRANSLATION My dear brahmana, I and all the sages present with me are eager to know about this. Therefore, O great soul, kindly explain to us the reason. SB6.18.22 TEXT 22 sri-suta uvaca tad visnuratasya sa badarayanir vaco nisamyadrtam alpam arthavat sabhajayan san nibhrtena cetasa jagada satrayana sarva-darsanah SYNONYMS sri-sutah uvaca—Sri Suta Gosvami said; tat—those; visnuratasya—of Maharaja Pariksit; sah—he; badarayanih—Sukadeva Gosvami; vacah—words; nisamya—hearing; adrtam—respectful; alpam—brief; artha-vat—meaningful; sabhajayan san—praising; nibhrtena cetasa—with great pleasure; jagada—replied; satrayana—O Saunaka; sarva-darsanah—who is aware of everything. TRANSLATION Sri Suta Gosvami said: O great sage Saunaka, after hearing Maharaja Pariksit speak respectfully and briefly on topics essential to hear, Sukadeva Gosvami, who was well aware of everything, praised his endeavor with great pleasure and replied. PURPORT Maharaja Pariksit’s question was very much appreciated by Sukadeva Gosvami because although it was composed of a small number of words, it contained meaningful inquiries about how the sons of Diti, although born as demons, became demigods. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura stresses that even though Diti was very envious, her heart was purified because of a devotional attitude. Another significant topic is that although Kasyapa Muni was a learned scholar and was advanced in spiritual consciousness, he nonetheless fell a victim to the inducement of his beautiful wife. All these questions were posed in a small number of words, and therefore Sukadeva Gosvami very much appreciated Maharaja Pariksit’s inquiry. SB6.18.23 TEXT 23 sri-suka uvaca hata-putra ditih sakra- parsni-grahena visnuna manyuna soka-diptena jvalanti paryacintayat SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; hata-putra—whose sons were killed; ditih—Diti; sakra-parsni-grahena—who was helping Lord Indra; visnuna—by Lord Visnu; manyuna—with anger; soka-diptena—kindled by lamentation; jvalanti—burning; paryacintayat—thought. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Just to help Indra, Lord Visnu killed the two brothers Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. Because of their being killed, their mother, Diti, overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, contemplated as follows. SB6.18.24 TEXT 24 kada nu bhratr-hantaram indriyaramam ulbanam aklinna-hrdayam papam ghatayitva saye sukham SYNONYMS kada—when; nu—indeed; bhratr-hantaram—the killer of the brothers; indriya-aramam—very fond of sense gratification; ulbanam—cruel; aklinna-hrdayam—hard hearted; papam—sinful; ghatayitva—having caused to be killed; saye—shall I rest; sukham—happily. TRANSLATION Lord Indra, who is very much fond of sense gratification, has killed the two brothers Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu by means of Lord Visnu. Therefore Indra is cruel, hardhearted and sinful. When will I, having killed him, rest with a pacified mind? SB6.18.25 TEXT 25 krmi-vid-bhasma-samjnasid yasyesabhihitasya ca bhuta-dhruk tat-krte svartham kim veda nirayo yatah SYNONYMS krmi—worms; vit—stool; bhasma—ashes; samjna—name; asit—becomes; yasya—of which (body); isa-abhihitasya—although designated as king; ca—also; bhuta-dhruk—he who harms others; tat-krte—for the sake of that; sva-artham—his self-interest; kim veda—does he know; nirayah—punishment in hell; yatah—from which. TRANSLATION When dead, the bodies of all the rulers known as kings and great leaders will be transformed into worms, stool or ashes. If one enviously kills others for the protection of such a body, does he actually know the true interest of life? Certainly he does not, for if one is envious of other entities, he surely goes to hell. PURPORT The material body, even if possessed by a great king, is ultimately transformed into stool, worms or ashes. When one is too attached to the bodily conception of life, he is certainly not very intelligent. SB6.18.26 TEXT 26 asasanasya tasyedam dhruvam unnaddha-cetasah mada-sosaka indrasya bhuyad yena suto hi me SYNONYMS asasanasya—thinking; tasya—of him; idam—this (body); dhruvam—eternal; unnaddha-cetasah—whose mind is unrestrained; mada-sosakah—who can remove the madness; indrasya—of Indra; bhuyat—may there be; yena—by which; sutah—a son; hi—certainly; me—of me. TRANSLATION Diti thought: Indra considers his body eternal, and thus he has become unrestrained. I therefore wish to have a son who can remove Indra’s madness. Let me adopt some means to help me in this. PURPORT One who is in the bodily conception of life is compared in the sastras to animals like cows and asses. Diti wanted to punish Indra, who had become like a lower animal. SB6.18.27-28 TEXTS 27–28 iti bhavena sa bhartur acacarasakrt priyam susrusayanuragena prasrayena damena ca bhaktya paramaya rajan manojnair valgu-bhasitaih mano jagraha bhava-jna sasmitapanga-viksanaih SYNONYMS iti—thus; bhavena—with the intention; sa—she; bhartuh—of the husband; acacara—performed; asakrt—constantly; priyam—pleasing activities; susrusaya—with service; anuragena—with love; prasrayena—with humility; damena—with self-control; ca—also; bhaktya—with devotion; paramaya—great; rajan—O King; manojnaih—charming; valgu-bhasitaih—with sweet words; manah—his mind; jagraha—brought under her control; bhava-jna—knowing his nature; sa-smita—with smiling; apanga-viksanaih—by glancing. TRANSLATION Thinking in this way [with a desire for a son to kill Indra], Diti began constantly acting to satisfy Kasyapa by her pleasing behavior. O King, Diti always carried out Kasyapa’s orders very faithfully, as he desired. With service, love, humility and control, with words spoken very sweetly to satisfy her husband, and with smiles and glances at him, Diti attracted his mind and brought it under her control. PURPORT When a woman wants to endear herself to her husband and make him very faithful, she must try to please him in all respects. When the husband is pleased with his wife, the wife can receive all necessities, ornaments and full satisfaction for her senses. Herein this is indicated by the behavior of Diti.
bhutanam isvaro ’pi san
prakrtim svam adhisthaya
sambhavamy atma-mayaya