The legend of Seven-Maruts, the Seven-Wind gods, and the legend of the kings of Vishaala are narrated to Rama and Lakshmana, while Vishvamitra is narrating the legend of Vishaala. At the request of Diti, Indra blesses the seven segments of her foetus to become sapta marut gaNa-s, Seven Wind gods, and the place where the legend of Indra-Diti has happened, that province later became the City of Vishaala.
saptadhā tu kṛte garbhe ditiḥ parama duḥkhitā |
sahasrākṣam durādharṣam vākyam sa anunayā abravīt || 1-47-1
1. garbhe saptadhaa tu kR^ite = foetus, into seven ways, but, on rendering; ditiH parama duHkhitaa = Diti, highly, anguished; duraadharSam sahasraakSam = to indomitable one, Thousand-eyed Indra; sa anunayaa vaakyam abraviit = with, appeasement, words, spoke.
"Diti was highly anguished when her foetus is rendered into sevenfold, and spoke these appeasing words to the indomitable Thousand-eyed Indra." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about City Vishala. [1-47-1]
mama aparādhāt garbho ayam saptadhā śakalī kṛtaḥ |
na aparādho hi deva īśa tava atra balasūdana || 1-47-2
2. bala suudana = demon Bala, killer of - oh, Indra; deva iisha = oh, gods, ruler of - Indra; mama aparaadhaat = my, by misdeed [alone]; ayam garbhaH = this, foetus; saptadhaa shakalii [viphalii ] kR^itaH = in seven, segments [foiled,] made into [sliced]; atra = in that matter; tava aparaadhaH = your, iniquity; na hi = not, indeed.
" 'Oh, Indra, the eliminator of demon Bala, this foetus of mine is sliced into seven segments owing to my own misdeed, oh, ruler of gods, Indra, indeed there is no iniquity of yours in this matter.' Thus Diti started speaking to Indra. [1-47-2]
priyam tvat kṛtam icchāmi mama garbha viparyaye |
marutām sapta saptānām sthānapālā bhavantu te || 1-47-3
3. garbha viparyaye [mama garbha viSaye viparyaye sambhave san] = pregnancy, reversal, [in my, pregnancy, matter of, reversal, happened, though]; = from you; mama = to me; tvat kR^itam = by you, done; priyam icChaami = a courtesy, I wish to have; [ime = these]; sapta = seven [segments of foetus]; saptaanaam = as seven; marutaam = of Wind-gods; te = in your [ruler-ship]; sthaana paalaa = [Airy, Ethereal] places, as rulers; bhavantu = let them become.
" 'Though a reversal has happened against my thinking in the matter of my pregnancy, let these seven segments become your seven Wind-gods, the rulers of seven ethereal-places, under your ruler-ship. [1-47-3]
According to mythology there are seven ethereal places in cosmos on which the galaxies and planets are dependent. According to Vishnu Puraana: aavaha pravahava caiva samvahaH ca udvaH ca tathaa | vihaa aakhyaH praivaahaH paraavaha iti kramaat || gaganaH sparshanaH vaayu anilaH ca tathaa aparaH | praaNaH praaNeshvaraH jiiva iti ete sapta maarutaaH || They are: aavaha the air called by this name will be pervading in clouds, thunderbolts, rain, meteors; pravaha air in solar orbit; samhava in lunar orbit; udvaha in galaxies; vivaha in planetary spheres; parivaha in the Seven-Sages sphere; varaavaha in north polar regions. These are otherwise called by names gagana, sparshana, vaayu, anila, praaNa, praaNeshvara, jiiva. Each of the Marut god has a batch of seven Marut-s, thus they are forty-nine entities, in total.
vāta skaṃdhā ime sapta carantu divi putraka |
mārutā iti vikhyātā divyarūpā mama ātmajāḥ ||1-47-4
4. putrakaaH = oh, son, Indra; sapta ime mama aatmajaaH = seven, of these, my, sons; divya ruupaa = with heavenly, forms; vaata skandhaa = to air divisions, presiding deities - let them become presiding deities in cosmos; maarutaa iti vikhyaataa = Maaruta-s, thus, renowned; carantu divi = let them move, in heaven.
" 'Oh, son Indra, let these seven sons of mine become the seven presiding deities of Cosmic Air Divisions and let them move in heaven with heavenly forms. [1-47-4]
brahma lokam caratu eka indra lokam tathā aparaḥ |
divya vāyuḥ iti khyātaḥ tṛtīyo api mahāyaśāḥ ||1-47-5
5. ekaH = one - of the seven; brahma lokam caratu = Brahma's, abode, move in - permeate; tathaa aparaH = likewise, another one; indra lokam = in Indra's, heaven; mahaa yashaaH tR^itiiyaH api = greatly, celebrated, third one, even; vaayuH iti khyaataH = Wind, thus, reputed as; divya [divi caratu] = Divine, - in Universe, let him circulate.
" 'One from the seven may permeate Brahma's abode, likewise another may permeate the heaven of Indra, and even the third one, let him become a greatly celebrated and reputed as Divine Wind, and he may circulate in entire universe. [1-47-5]
catvāraḥ tu suraśreṣṭha diśo vai tava śāsanāt |
saṃcariṣyanti bhadram te kalena hi mama ātmajāḥ ||1-47-6
tvat kṛtena eva nāmnā vai mārutā iti viśrutāḥ |
6, 7a. sura shreSTha = oh, god's, chief; catvaaraH mama aatma jaaH = four, of my, soul, born ones - sons; tava shaasanaat vai = by your, command, indeed; tvat kR^itena eva naamnaa vai = by you, given, thus, by name, indeed; maarutaa iti vishrutaaH = Maaruta, thus, be renowned; kaalena dishaH sam cariSyanti hi = in time, in directions, verily, let them permeate, indeed; te bhadram = let safety betide you.
" 'Oh, chief of gods, Indra, let four of my sons permeate four directions according to time and at your command, let safety betide you, and let them be renowned verily by the name given by you as 'Marut,' because you have coaxed the crying fragments of foetus saying, 'maa ruda, maa ruda, 'do not cry, do not cry...' Thus Diti said to Indra. [1-47-6, 7a]
tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ puraṃdaraḥ ||1-47-7
uvāca prāṃjaliḥ vākyam ditim balasūdanaḥ |
7b, 8a. sahasra akSaH = Thousand-eyed one; puram daraH = enemy-citadels, destroyer; bala suudanaH = demon Bala, destroyer of - Indra; tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa = of her, that, words, on hearing; pra anjaliH ditim vaakyam uvaaca = with adjoined- palms, to Diti, words, said.
"On hearing her words, the Thousand-eyed destroyer of enemy's citadels and a demon named Bala, namely Indra, spoke this word to Diti, humbly adjoining his palms. [1-47-7b, 8a]
sarvam etat yathā uktam te bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||1-47-8
vicariṣyanti bhadram te devarūpāḥ tava ātmajāḥ |
evam tau niścayam kṛtvā mātā putrau tapovane ||1-47-9
jagmatuḥ tridivam rāma kṛtārthau iti naḥ śrutam |
8b, 9, 10a. te = to you [by you]; yathaa uktam = as, said; etat sarvam bhaviSyati = this, all, will happen; samshayaH na = doubt, without; tava aatmajaaH = you, own offspring; deva ruupaaH = gods, in the form of; vicariSyanti = will be moving [pervading]; te bhadram = you be safe; so said Indra to Diti; raama = oh, Rama; tau = those two; maataa putrau = [Diti, the step] mother, [Indra the] son; tapaH vane = in ascetic, forest; evam nishcayam kR^itvaa = in this way, decision, on taking; kR^ita arthaau = fulfilling, their purposes; tridivam jagmatuH = to heaven, they departed; iti naH shrutam = thus, for us [by us, the legend is] heard.
" 'All this will happen as you have said, undoubtedly, and your offspring, the Maaruta-s, would be pervading in the forms of gods, you be safe.' Thus Indra assured Diti. Those two, the stepmother Diti and the stepson Indra, on arriving at a decision in that ascetic forest, departed to heaven fulfilling their purposes. Thus we heard the legend." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-47-8b, 9, 10a]
eṣa deśaḥ sa kākutstha mahendrāt adyuṣitaḥ purā || 1-47-10
ditim yatra tapaḥ siddhām evam paricacāra saḥ |
10b, 11. kaakutstha = oh, Rama, of Kakutstha; eSa = this is; puraa = once; mahendraa adhyuSitaH = by Indra, presided over; saH deshaH = that, province; yatra = where; saH = he - Indra; tapaH siddhaam = in her asceticism, an accomplished one; ditim = to Diti; evam paricacaara = in this way, rendered services.
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, this province is that one which was once presided over by Indra, and where he rendered services to that accomplished one in her asceticism, namely lady Diti. [1-47-10b, 11a]
ikṣvākostu naravyāghra putraḥ parama dhārmikaḥ || 1-47-11
alaṃbuṣāyām utpanno viśāla iti viśrutaḥ |
tena ca āsīt iha sthāne viśāle iti purī kṛtā || 1-47-12
11b, 12. naravyaaghra = oh, tigerly-man, Rama; ikSvaakoH tu = to King Ikshvaku, on his part; alambuSaayaam = throguh queen Alambusa; parama dhaarmikaH = most, righteous one [is born]; vishaala iti vishrutaH = Vishaala, as, renowned; putraH utpannaH = a son, is born; tena = by him - owing to him; iha sthaane = at this, place; vishaala iti purii kR^itaa = Vishaala, as known as,] city, constructed; aasiit = is there.
"To king Ikshvaku of Vishaala, oh, tigerly-man Rama, a highly righteous son was born through queen Alambusa, and he was renowned as Vishaala. There is a city in this place constructed by him and known by his own name, Vishaala. [1-47-11b, 12]
These Ikshvaku-s of Vishaala are not the Ikshvaku-s of Ayodhya, i.e., of Solar Dynasty. The Bhaagavata Puraana says separately in its seventh canto about this dynasty of Ikshvaku-s of Vishaala.
viśālasya suto rāma hemacandro mahābalaḥ |
sucandra iti vikhyāto hemacandrāt anaṃtaraḥ || 1-47-13
13. raama = oh, Rama; mahaabalaH hemacandraH = great-mighty one, Hemachandra; vishaalasya sutaH = Vishala's, son; hemacandraat anantaraH = from Hemachandra, latter one - son of Hemacandra; sucandra iti vikhyaataH = Suchandra, as, highly renowned one.
"Oh, Rama, Vishaala's son is the great-mighty Hemachandra, and Hemachandra's son is highly renowned as Suchandra.. [1-47-13]
sucandra tanayo rāma dhūmra aśva iti viśrutaḥ |
dhūmrāśva tanayaḥ ca api sṛṃjayaḥ samapadyata || 1-47-14
14. raama = oh, Rama; sucandra tanayaH = Suchandra's, son; dhuumraashva iti vishrutaH = Dhuumra ashva, as, renowned; dhuumraashva tanayaH ca api = Dhuumraashva, son, also, even; sR^injayaH samapadyata = Srinjaya, derived.
"The son of Suchandra became famous as Dhuumraashva, and oh, Rama, Dhuumraashva derived his son named Srinjaya. [1-47-14]
sṛṃjayasya sutaḥ śrīmān sahadevaḥ pratāpavān |
kuśāśvaḥ sahadevasya putraḥ parama dhārmikaḥ || 1-47-15
15. shriimaan prataapavaan = fortunate one, valorous one; sahadevaH = Sahadeva; sR^injayasya sutaH = is Srinjaya's, son; parama dhaarmikaH kushaashvaH sahadevasya putraH = most righteous, Kushaashva is, Sahadeva's, son.
"The fortunate and valorous son of Srinjaya is Sahadeva, and the son of Sahadeva is the most righteous Kushaashva. [1-47-15]
kuśāśvasya mahātejāḥ somadattaḥ pratāpavān |
somadattasya putraḥ tu kākutstha iti viśrutaḥ ||1-47-16
16. mahaatejaaH prataapavaan somadattaH = highly resplendent, dauntless, Somadatta is; kushaashvasya [putraH] = Kushaashva's, [son]; somadattasya putraH tu = Somadatta's, son, on his part; kaakutstha iti vishrutaH = Kakutstha, thus, highly reputed one.
"The highly resplendent and dauntless Somadatta is the son of Kushaashva and Somadatta's son is highly reputed as Kakutstha. [1-47-16]
tasya putro mahātejāḥ saṃprati eṣa purīm imām |
āvasat parama prakhyaḥ sumatiḥ nāma durjayaḥ || 1-47-17
17. samprati = presently; eSa imaam puriim = in this, city; tasya = his [Kakutstha's]; putraH mahaa tejaaH = son [of Kakutstha,] great-resplendent one; parama [amara] prakhyaH = highly [godlike,] celebrated one; dur jayaH = un, conquerable one; sumatiH naama = Sumati named one; aavasat = is dwelling.
"Presently that Kakutstha's son named Sumati, who is a great-resplendent one, an unconquerable one, and a highly celebrated one is dwelling in this city. [1-47-17]
These two Ikshvaku and Kakutstha are of Vishaala dynasty. They are not to be confounded with the grandparents of Rama.
ikṣvākostu prasādena sarve vaiśālikā nṛpāḥ |
dīrgha āyuṣo mahātmāno vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ || 1-47-18
18. ikSvaakaH tu prasaadena = by Ikshvaku, but, by the grace of; vaishaalikaaH nR^ipaaH = relating to Vishaala, [successive] kings; sarve = all of them; diirgha aayuSaH = had long, life [had longevity]; mahaatmaanaH = great souled ones; viirya vantaH = intrepid ones; su dhaarmikaaH = highly, generous ones [well-off, in generosity.]
"By the grace of Ikshvaku, the successive kings of Vishaala have longevity, intrepidity, well-off in generosity, and they were great-souled ones. [1-47-18]
iha adya rajanīm ekām sukham svapsyāmahe vayam |
śvaḥ prabhāte naraśreṣṭha janakam draṣṭum arhasi || 1-47-19
19. nara shreSTha = oh, best among men - Rama; adya ekaam rajaniim = today, one, night; iha = here alone; vayam sukham svapsyaamahe = we, gladly, go to sleep; shvaH prabhaate = tomorrow, morning; janakam draSTum arhasi = Janaka [King of Mithila,] to see, will be apt of you.
"Today we may gladly go to sleep here for a night, and oh, best one among men, and it will be apt of you to see Janaka, the King of Mithila tomorrow morning." Thus Sage Vishvamitra spoke to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-47-19]
sumatiḥ tu mahātejā viśvāmitram upāgatam |
śrutvā nara vara śreṣṭhaḥ pratyāgacchan mahāyaśāḥ || 1-47-20
20. mahaatejaaH mahaa yashaaH = highly resplendent one, widely, reputed one; nara vara shreSThaH = among men, best, best of [best among best men]; sumatiH tu = Sumati [King of Vishaala,] on his part; vishvaamitram upa agatam = Vishvamitra, to nearby, came - arrived at the outskirts of city; shrutvaa = on hearing; prati aagacChat = towards, came - for warm welcome.
The best one among best men, a widely reputed and the highly resplendent king of Vishaala, namely Sumati, having heard that Vishvamitra has arrived at the precincts of the city, came to him for a warm welcome. [1-47-20]
pūjām ca paramām kṛtvā sa upādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ |
prāṃjaliḥ kuśalam pṛṣṭvā viśvāmitram atha abravīt || 1-47-21
21. sa upaadhyaayaH sa baandhavaH = with, mentors, with family members - Sumati on arriving with; paramaam puujaam kR^itvaa = excellent, veneration, on performing; pra anjaliH = with adjoined palms; kushalam pR^iSTvaa = well being, on enquiring about; atha = then; vishvaamitram abraviit = to Vishvamitra, spoke.
King Sumati arrived along with his mentors and family members, offered an excellent veneration to Vishvamitra, and then spoke to the sage with adjoined palms enquiring about his well being. [1-47-21]
dhanyo asmi anugṛhīto asmi yasya me viṣayam mune |
saṃprāpto darśanam caiva na asti dhanyataro mama || 1-47-22
22. yasya me viSayam = to which, mine, province - to which province, that of mine; mune = oh, saint; sam praaptaH darshanam = well, chanced, your audience; such as I am I am; dhanyaH asmi = fortunate, I am; anugR^ihiitaH asmi = much obliged, I am; mama dhanya taraH = me, fortunate one, than, higher in degree; na asti = not, is there.
"To which province you have visited that happens to be mine, thereby I could get an audience of yours without stirring myself from my country, hence none will be more fortunate than me." So said king Sumati to Vishvamitra. [1-47-22]
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe sapta catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
© Oct, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04]