Diti seeks for a son to kill Indra because Indra and other gods have killed her sons in the battle after churning Milk Ocean. But Indra, being her stepson arrives at her place of asceticism, with view to destroy that Indra-killer. On a fateful day when Diti failed to maintain the procedure of vow, Indra enters her womb and dissects the foetus into seven fragments, which later become saptamarudgaNa-s, The Seven Wind-gods.
हतेषु तेषु पुत्रेषु दितिः परमदुःखिता |
मारीचं काश्यपं राम भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् || १-४६-१
1. raama = oh Rama; teSu putreSu hateSu = those, sons, while being killed; ditiH paramaduHkhitaa = Diti, is highly, anguished; bhartaaram maariicam kaashyapam = to husband, son of Mareechi, to sage Kaashyapa; idam abraviit = said this.
"Oh, Rama, Lady Diti was highly anguished for those sons that are killed and said this to her husband, Sage Kashyapa, the son of Sage Maareechi." Thus Vishvamitra continued narration. [1-46-1]
हतपुत्रास्मि भगवंस्तव पुत्रैर्महाबलैः |
शक्रहन्तारमिच्छामि पुत्रं दीर्घतपोऽर्जितम् ||१-४६-२
2. bhagavan = oh god; mahaabalaiH = great mighty ones; tava putraiH = by your, sons; hataputraasmi = killed sons I am - my sons are killed; shakrahantaaram = exterminator of Indra; diirghatapaH arjitam = one who can be achievable by sustained penance; such a; putram = son; icChaami = I wish - to bear.
Oh, god, I am bereaved of my sons who are killed by your great mighty sons, the sons of your second wife Aditi, as such I wish to bear a son, who is achievable by sustained penance, for he shall be the exterminator of Indra. [1-46-2]
साहं तपश्चरिष्यामि गर्भं मे दातुमर्हसि |
ईश्वरं शक्रहन्तारं त्वमनुज्ञातुमर्हसि || १-४६-३
3. saa aham = such as I am - such a bereaved mother; tapaH chariSyaami = I wish to undertake asceticism; anuGYaatum [daatum] arhasi = apt of you to permit [to accord] ; tvam = you; iishvaram = who shall be a ruler of worlds; shakrahantaaram = who shall be - exterminator of Indra; with such a son; garbham me daatum arhasi = apt of you to accord pregnancy to me .
'Such a bereaved mother as I am, I wish to undertake asceticism for a son who shall become an exterminator of Indra, and who shall be the ruler of worlds. As such, it will be apt of you to permit me for asceticism, and further it will be apt of you to accord me pregnancy with such a son.' Thus Diti spoke to her husband Kaashyapa. [1-46-3]
A sage's wife requires permission of her husband if she wishes to undertake an individual asceticism, because she will be receiving her own share of merit from her sage-husband's penances and practises, as he is her life-mate.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मारीचः कश्यपस्तदा |
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा दितिं परमदुःखिताम् || १-४६-४
4. tadaa = then; maariicaH = son of Sage Mareechi; mahaatejaaH = great resplendent sage; kashyapaH = Kashyapa; tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa = on hearing that sentence - request of her; paramaduHkhitaam ditim = to deeply mournful Diti; pratyuvaaca = said in reply.
On hearing her request the great resplendent sage Kaashyapa, the son of Sage Mareechi, replied Diti, who is deeply mournful. [1-46-4]
एवं भवतु भद्रं ते शुचिर्भव तपोधने |
जनयिष्यसि पुत्रं त्वं शक्रहन्तारमाहवे ||१-४६-५
5. tapodhane = oh ascetically wealthy one - Lady Diti; evam bhavatu = so, be it; te bhadram = you, be blest; shuciH bhava = purity [propriety,] you become [abide by]; tvam = you; aahave shakrahantaaram = Indra's exterminator in war; such a; putram = son; janayiSyasi = you will be delivering.
" 'So be it... oh, ascetically wealthy lady, you be blest, if you abide by the propriety of the practises of asceticism, then you will be delivering a son who can become an exterminator of Indra in war. [1-46-5]
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु शुचिर्यदि भविष्यसि |
पुत्रं त्रैलोक्यहन्तारं मत्तस्त्वं जनयिष्यसि ||१-४६-६
6. tvam shuciH bhaviSyasi yadi = if you become pure [punctilious] ; varSasahasre puurNe tu = on completing thousand years, but; mattaH = from me [by my grace]; trailokyahantaaram [bhartaaram] = three worlds exterminator [husbander]; putram = son; janayiSyasi = you can deliver.
'If you can complete a thousand years of asceticism punctiliously, by my grace you can deliver a son who can be a husbander of three worlds.' Thus Sage Kaashyapa advised his wife Diti. [1-46-6]
In some other versions the word trailokyahantaaram is carried forward from earlier verses of Diti, into the speech of Sage Kaashyapa also. Some have it as trailokyabhartaaram 'a husbander of three worlds...' Diti may have desired for a 'killer.' But Kashyapa, as a father of both gods and demons, cannot term the issuing son as an exterminator of three worlds, because the three worlds are in vogue at Kaashyapa's grace. Some attach this adjective to Indra but not to the forthcoming son of Diti.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः पाणिना स ममार्ज ताम् |
तमालभ्य ततः स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा तपसे ययौ ||१-४६-७
7. mahaatejaaH = great resplendent [sage]; saH = he, Kaashyapa; evam uktvaa = thus, saying; taam paaNinaa mamaarja = wiped her with hand - patted; tam aalabhya tataH = on touching her, then; svasti iti uktvaa = be blest, thus, on saying; [saH = he, Kaashyapa]; tapase yayau = departed for ascetic practises.
Saying thus that great resplendent sage patted her, and then on his touching her she is consecrated, and then that sage Kaashyapa departed for his ascetic practises, saying 'be blest.' [1-46-7]
गते तस्मिन्नरश्रेष्ठ दितिः परमहर्षिता |
कुशप्लवं सामासाद्य तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् ||१-४६-८
8. narashreSTha = oh best one among men, Rama; tasmin gate sati = he [Kashyapa];, when gone; ditiH paramaharSitaa = Diti, is highly elated; kushaplavam samaasaadya = on reaching [to a sacred place called] Kushaplava; sudaaruNam tapaH tepe = she practised highly rigorous, asceticism.
On the exit of Sage Kaashyapa, oh, best one among men Rama, highly elated Diti reached the sacred place called Kushaplava, on which the present City of Vishala is now standing, and practised a highly rigorous asceticism. [1-46-8]
तपस्तस्यां हि कुर्वत्यां परिचर्यां चकार ह |
सहस्राक्षो नरश्रेष्ठ परया गुणसंपदा || १-४६-९
9. narashreSTha = oh best among men Rama; tasyaam tapaH kurvatyaam [carantyaam] hi = she, while practising asceticism, truly; sahasraakSaH = Thousand-eyed god - Indra; parayaa guNasampadaa = with abundant and surpassing veracities; paricaryaam cakaara ha = services, rendered, indeed.
While she is truly practising asceticism, oh, the best among men Rama, that Thousand-eyed god Indra has indeed rendered services with his abundant and surpassing veracities to her, who is none other than his maternal-aunt. [1-46-9]
अग्निं कुशान् काष्ठमपः फलं मूलं तथैव च |
न्यवेदयत् सहस्राक्षो यच्चान्यदपि कांक्षितम् ||१-४६-१०
10. sahasraakSaH = Thousand eyed god, Indra; agnim kushaan kaaSTham apaH = fire, Kusha grass, firewood, water; phalam tathaa eva ca muulam = fruits, like that, also, tubers; kaankSitam anyat = [she] wanted - required, other [items]; yat ca api = whatever, also, even; nyavedayat = he offered - made available.
The Thousand-eyed god Indra made available fire, firewood, water, the sacred Kusha grass, fruits and like that tubers also, and whatever other items she required in her ascetic practise. [1-46-10]
गात्रसंवाहनैश्चैव श्रमापनयनैस्तथा |
शक्रः सर्वेषु कालेषु दितिं परिचचार ह || १-४६-११
11. shakraH = Indra; gaatrasamvahanaiH ca eva = limbs [body,] massages, also, thus; tathaa = likewise; shramaapanayanaiH = sending - by removing away [bodily] strain; sarveSu kaaleSu = in all, times [all the time]; ditim paricacaara ha = served to Diti, indeed.
All the time Indra indeed served Diti by massaging her body, and other means of removing her bodily strain resulting from her arduous practises. [1-46-11]
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु दशोने रघुनंदन |
दितिः परमसंहृष्टा सहस्राक्षमथाब्रवीत् ||१-४६-१२
12. raghunandana = oh Rama, descendent of Raghu; atha = then; varSasahasre puurNe = to complete thousand years; dashone = less ten years - 990 years; ditiH paramasamhR^iSTaa = Diti, highly rejoiced; sahasraakSam abraviit = Indra spoke to Thousand-eyed god.
Oh, Rama, the descendent of Raghu, when ten years are less to complete the thousand years span of her ascetics, Diti is highly rejoiced as her ambition is going to fructify in just ten more years, and then she spoke to the Thousand-eyed god, Indra. [1-46-12]
तपश्चरन्त्या वर्षाणि दश वीर्यवतां वर |
अवशिष्टानि भद्रं ते भ्रातरं द्रक्ष्यसे ततः ||१-४६-१३
13. viiryavataam vara = oh, best one among valiant ones - oh, Indra; tapaH carantyaa = asceticism, to me who am practising; dashavarSaaNi avashiSTaani = ten years, are remaining; tataH bhraataram drakSyase = then, you can see brother; te bhadram = you be, safe.
Oh, best one among the valiant ones, Indra, to me who am practising asceticism ten years are remaining to complete, then you can see your brother, you be safe. [1-46-13]
यमहं त्वत्कृते पुत्र तमाधास्ये जयोत्सुकम् |
त्रैलोक्यविजयं पुत्र सह भोक्ष्यसि विज्वरः || १-४६-१४
14. putra = oh son - Indra; yam = whom; tvat kR^ite = for your, reason; jayotsukam = enthusiastic one in victory [to conquer you] ; tam aham aadhaasye = I am bringing up him; putra = oh son, Indra; vijvaraH = without febrility [of enemies]; trailokyavijayam = victory on three worlds; saha bhokSyasi = with [him] you can enjoy.
Oh, son Indra, whom I am bringing up for your reason, I will bring him up as a victory-enthusiast, and oh, son, Indra, along with him conquering the three worlds you can enjoy them, without febrility from your enemies.
or
Oh, son Indra, whom I am now bringing up, will be enthusiastic in conquering you, but somehow I will manage him by telling that you are after all his brother, and no harm shall be done to you, and oh, son Indra, if you join him you will get rid of your febrility, caused by his emergence, and then you two can conquer all the three worlds. [1-46-14]
याचितेन सुरश्रेष्ट पित्रा तव महात्मना |
वरो वर्षसहस्रान्ते मम दत्तः सुतं प्रति || १-४६-१५
15. surashreSTa = oh best one among gods; yaachitena = on my prayer; maahaatmanaa tava pitraa = from high-souled one, by your, father- Kaashyapa; varShasahasraante = at the end of thousand years; mama sutam prati = to me, towards son [for a son]; varaH dattaH = boon, is bestowed.
Oh, best one among gods, Indra, on my prayer your high-souled father Sage Kaashyapa bestowed this boon on me for a son, which materialises at the end of thousand years, and only ten more years are to slip by. [1-46-15]
इत्युक्त्वा च दितिस्तत्र प्राप्ते मध्यन्दिनेश्वरे |
निद्रयापहृता देवी पादौ कृत्वाथ शीर्षतः ||१-४६-१६
16. ditiH = Diti; iti uktvaa = thus, saying; dineshvaraH = day's, lord - Sun; [aakaasha] madhyam praapte = on reaching [sky] in middle - at midday; devii = that lady; atha = then; paadau shiirSataH kR^itvaa = on keeping two feet headward; tatra = there in that matter of asceticism; nidrayaa apahR^itaa = stolen over by sleep.
When Diti was saying thus, the noontime sun was reigning high that lady is stolen over by sleep keeping her feet headward. [1-46-16]
This 'keeping feet headward' is variously inferred. While sitting she leaned on her knees and her braid touched feet, thus she became impious. She slept with her head neither towards east nor to south. The ancient cots in India used to have head-side and feet-side finishing. Then she placed head at feet-side and feet at head-side. Even if a cot is not there, though slept on ground, the head shall be positioned eastward or southward, but not to north or west. Finally, she slept at noontime, and for a person under a vow noontime sleep is prohibitive. anena vratasthaanaam divaa svaapaH paadasthaane shiraH sthaapanam ca ashucikaram iti suucitam - dk Hence her meticulousness is defeated.
दृष्ट्वा तामशुचिं शक्रः पादयोः कृतमूर्धजाम् |
शिरःस्थाने कृतौ पादौ जहास च मुमोद च || १-४६-१७
17. shakraH = Indra; paadayoH kR^itamuurdhajaam = placing head at feet-side and braid resting on feet; ashucim = not pious one; taam dR^iSTvaa = her [Diti,] on observing; shiraH sthaane kR^itau paadau = feet placed at the place of head; jahaasa ca mumoda ca = laughed, also, gladdened, also.
On observing her who has become impious by placing her head at feet-side and braid falling on feet, Indra is gladdened and laughed at her failed asceticism. [1-46-17]
तस्याः शरीरविवरं प्रविवेश पुरंदरः |
गर्भं च सप्तधा राम चिच्छेद परमात्मवान् ||१-४६-१८
18. raama = oh Rama; purandaraH = destroyer of enemy-fastnesses - Indra; tasyaaH shariiravivaram = body's [vaginal] aperture of her [Diti's] ; pravivesha ca = entered, also; paramaatmavaan = highly courageous one; garbham saptadhaa cicCheda = rent asunder womb [foetus] into seven ways [seven fragments] .
Oh, Rama, being a highly courageous one, Indra the destroyer of enemy fastnesses, entered the body of Diti through her vaginal aperture and rent her foetus asunder into seven fragments. [1-46-18]
भिद्यमानस्ततो गर्भो वज्रेण शतपर्वणा |
रुरोद सुस्वरं राम ततो दितिरबुध्यत || १-४६-१९
19. raama = oh Rama; tataH = then; shataparvaNaa = which has hundred cutting edges; vajreNa = with such Thunderbolt; bhidyamaanaH garbhaH = being sliced, womb [foetus]; susvaram = in loud voiced - clamorously; ruroda = wailed; tataH ditiH abudhyata = then, Diti, is awakened.
Oh, Rama, then that foetus wailed clamorously while being sliced with Thunderbolt that has hundred cutting edges, and then Diti woke up. [1-46-19]
मा रुदो मा रुदश्चेति गर्भं शक्रोऽभ्यभाषत |
बिभेद च महातेजा रुदन्तमपि वासवः || १-४६-२०
20. maa rudaH maa rudaH = do not, scream, do not, scream; iti shakraH garbham abhyabhaaSata = thus, Indra said - coaxed to foetus ; mahaatejaaH vaasavaH = great resplendent, Indra; rudantam api = wailing, even though [foetus is wailing]; bibheda ca = fragmented it, also.
'Do not scream, do not scream...' thus Indra was coaxing the foetus, and even though that foetus is screaming piteously the great resplendent Indra has gone on fragmenting it. [1-46-20]
न हन्तव्यं न हन्तव्यमित्येवं दितिरब्रवीत् |
निष्पपात ततः शक्रो मातुर्वचनगौरवात् ||१-४६-२१
21. ditiH = Diti; na hantavyam na hantavyam = not, killable, not killable; iti evam abraviit = thus, that way, spoke [raved]; tataH = then; shakraH = Indra; maatuH vacanagauravaat = owing honour to mother's words [entreaty] ; niSpapaata = out fallen - fell out of womb.
'Unkillable, unkillable is my foetus...' thus Diti raved in that way, and then Indra fell out of the womb honouring his stepmother's entreaty. [1-46-21]
प्रांजलिर्वज्रसहितो दितिं शक्रोऽभ्यभाषत |
अशुचिर्देवि सुप्तासि पादयोः कृतमूर्धजा|| १-४६-२२
22. vajrasahitaH = along with Thunderbolt - blood-wet weapon still in hand; shakraH = Indra; praanjaliH = humbly adjoining palms; ditim abhyabhaaSata = to Diti, spoke; devi = oh lady; paadayoH kR^itamuurdhajaa = made [touching] head-hair [braid] on feet; ashuciH = not pious - you became; [madhyaahne] suptaa asi = you have [in midday] slept .
Indra humbly folding his palms that are still handling his bloody Thunderbolt spoke to Diti, 'oh, lady, you have become impious when your braid touched your feet and when you have gone to sleep in midday, and you vow is thwarted.' [1-46-22]
तदन्तरमहं लब्ध्वा शक्रहन्तारमाहवे |
अभिदं सप्तधा देवि तन्मे त्वम् क्षन्तुमर्हसि || १-४६-२३
23. aham = I; tat antaram labdhvaa = that, chance, on gaining; aahave shakrahantaaram = [who can become] eliminator of Indra in battle; saptadhaa abhidam = fragmented - the foetus in seven ways [seven fragments] ; devi = oh lady; me tat = my, that - deed; tvam kSantum arhasi= apt of you to pardon .
"Thereby I gained a chance to eliminate him who can eliminate Indra in a battle. Hence I fragmented your foetus into seven fragments, and it will be apt of you to pardon me for that act of mine." So said Indra to lady Diti. Thus, Sage Vishvamitra continued narration about City of Vishaala. [1-46-23]
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
© Oct, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04
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