Is line 3 of Earth in its correct place?

It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.

Hexagram 2, line 3

六三Line 3 of Earth

Six in the third place · 坤 kūn

hidden brillianceserving without credita proper end

爻辭 The line text

含章可貞。或從王事，无成有終。

The third line, divided, (shows its subject) keeping his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintaining it. If he should have occasion to engage in the king's service, though he will not claim the success (for himself), he will bring affairs to a good issue.

Its symbolism

含章可貞；以時發也。或從王事，知光大也。

'He keeps his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintains it:'—at the proper time he will manifest it. 'He may have occasion to engage in the king's service:'—great is the glory of his wisdom.

In plain words

'Holding brilliance within, one can remain steadfast; if one serves the king, claim no completion but bring things to an end.' Line three is the top of the lower trigram, yin in a yang place, the first position in Kun where a person has real talent and a real temptation to display it. The counsel is to keep the pattern inside and 'let it out at the right time', as the small Image says (以時發也). The second half describes the good subordinate: doing the work and letting the credit go upward, while making sure the task is actually finished. The small Image calls this 'wisdom that is bright and large' (知光大也) — not timidity but understanding.

If this line is changing

Do the work well and let someone else take the visible credit this time; your contribution is safe as long as the thing is actually completed.

Where the line stands

A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
It belongs to the lower trigram 坤 Kun (the Receptive) (earth).
It has no correspondence (無應) with line 6: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.

之卦 When this line moves

坤 Earth becomes ䷎ 15 謙 Humility

A mountain hidden within the earth: greatness that stays low. The only hexagram whose six lines all turn out well — humility succeeds, and the superior person carries things through to the end.

What it becomes15 · 謙 Humilityqiān

The six lines of 坤 Earth

Read 坤 Earth for a question about

Love and relationships Work and career A yes-or-no decision

Questions about this line

What does Six in the third place of hexagram 2, Earth, mean?: 'Holding brilliance within, one can remain steadfast; if one serves the king, claim no completion but bring things to an end.' Line three is the top of the lower trigram, yin in a yang place, the first position in Kun where a person has real talent and a real temptation to display it. The counsel is to keep the pattern inside and 'let it out at the right time', as the small Image says (以時發也). The second half describes the good subordinate: doing the work and letting the credit go upward, while making sure the task is actually finished. The small Image calls this 'wisdom that is bright and large' (知光大也) — not timidity but understanding.
What does hexagram 2 become when line 3 changes?: Earth becomes hexagram 15, 謙 Humility: A mountain hidden within the earth: greatness that stays low. The only hexagram whose six lines all turn out well — humility succeeds, and the superior person carries things through to the end.
Is line 3 of Earth in its correct place?: It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.

Cast a reading Hexagram 2 in full Changing lines explained

Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).