Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.18.71
इन्द्र उवाच
अम्ब तेऽहं व्यवसितमुपधार्यागतोऽन्तिकम् ।
लब्धान्तरोऽच्छिदं गर्भमर्थबुद्धिर्न धर्मदृक् ॥ ७१ ॥
indra uvāca
[indra uvaacha]
amba te ’haṁ vyavasitam
[amba te ’ham vyavasitam]
upadhāryāgato ’ntikam
[upadhaaryaagato ’ntikam]
labdhāntaro ’cchidaṁ garbham
[labdhaantaro ’chchidam garbham]
artha-buddhir na dharma-dṛk
[artha-buddhir na dharma-drik]
Word-for-word
indraḥ uvāca
—
Indra said
amba
—
O mother
te
—
your
aham
—
I
vyavasitam
—
vow
upadhārya
—
understanding
āgataḥ
—
came
antikam
—
nearby
labdha
—
having found
antaraḥ
—
a fault
acchidam
—
I cut
garbham
—
the embryo
artha-buddhiḥ
—
being self-interested
na
—
not
dharma-dṛk
—
possessing vision of religion.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
indra uvāca
indraḥ uvāca
Indra said
amba te ’haṁ vyavasitam
amba
O mother
te
your
aham
I
vyavasitam
vow
upadhāryāgato ’ntikam
upadhārya
understanding
āgataḥ
came
labdhāntaro ’cchidaṁ garbham
antikam
nearby
labdha
having found
antaraḥ
a fault
acchidam
I cut
garbham
the embryo
artha-buddhir na dharma-dṛk
artha-buddhiḥ
being self-interested
na
not
dharma-dṛk
possessing vision of religion.
Indra replied: My dear mother, because I was grossly blinded by selfish interests, I lost sight of religion. When I understood that you were observing a great vow in spiritual life, I wanted to find some fault in you. When I found such a fault, I entered your womb and cut the embryo to pieces.
Purport
When Diti, Indra’s aunt, explained to Indra without reservations what she had wanted to do, Indra explained his intentions to her. Thus both of them, instead of being enemies, freely spoke the truth. This is the qualification that results from contact with Viṣṇu. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12) :
yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
If one develops a devotional attitude and becomes purified by worshiping the Supreme Lord, all the good qualities are certainly manifested in his body. Because of being touched by worship of Viṣṇu, both Diti and Indra were purified.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Indra said: O mother! Understanding your vow, in my own interests, I was situated nearby, and, finding a fault, I cut the embryo up, not thinking of what was proper conduct.
When Diti spoke truthfully, Indra also spoke truthfully. Labdhāntaraḥ means “finding a fault.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Indra: I was blinded by selfish interest and lost sight of religion; finding your fault, I cut the embryo. Confession with both motive and method is complete.
Reflection Questions
- Have I confessed a wrong with both motive and method, or only one?
- What does full confession make possible?
My note
Source: vedabase.io