Chapter [Sarga] 46

Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 46

Introduction

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 sapta marut gaNa-s, The Seven Wind-gods.

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hateSu teSu putreSu ditiH parama duHkhitaa |
maariicam kaashyapam raama bhartaaram idam abraviit || 1-46-1

1. raama= oh, Rama; teSu putreSu hateSu= those, sons, while being killed; ditiH parama duHkhitaa= Diti, is highly, anguished; bhartaaram maariicam kaashyapam= to husband, son of Mareechi, to sage Kaashyapa; idam abraviit= this, said.

"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]

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hata putraa asmi bhagavan tava putraiH mahaabalaiH |
shakra hantaaram icChaami putram diirgha tapo arjitam ||1-46-2

2. bhagavan= oh, god; mahaa balaiH= great mighty ones; tava putraiH= by your, sons; hata putraa asmi= killed, sons, I am - my sons are killed; shakra hantaaram= Indra, exterminator of; diirgha tapoH jitam= by sustained, penance, one who can be achievable; 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]

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saa aham tapaH chariSyaami garbham me daatum ar.hhasi |
iishvaram shakra hantaaram tvam anuj~naatum ar.hhasi || 1-46-3

3. saa aham= such as I am - such a bereaved mother; tapaH chariSyaami= asceticism, I wish to undertake; anuj~naatum [daatum] arhasi= permission, to [to accord,] apt of you; tvam= you; iishvaram= who shall be a ruler of worlds; shakra hantaaram= who shall be - Indra, exterminator of; with such a son; garbham me daatum arhasi= pregnancy, to me, to accord, apt of you.

" '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.

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tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa maariicaH kaashyapaH tadaa |
pratyuvaaca mahaatejaa ditim parama duHkhitaam || 1-46-4

4. tadaa= then; maariicaH= son of Sage Mareechi; mahaa tejaa= great, resplendent sage; kaashyapaH= Kaashyapa; tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa= of her, that, sentence - request, on hearing; parama duHkhitaam ditim= to deeply, mournful, to Diti; prati uvaaca= in reply, said.

On hearing her request the great resplendent sage Kaashyapa, the son of Sage Mareechi, replied Diti, who is deeply mournful. [1-46-4]

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evam bhavatu bhadram te shuciH bhava tapodhane |
janayiSyasi putram tvam shakra hantaaram aahave ||1-46-5

5. tapaH dhane= 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 shakra hantaaram= in war, Indra's, exterminator; 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]

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puurNe varSa sahasre tu shuciH yadi bhaviSyasi |
putram trailokya hantaaram mattaH tvam janayiSyasi ||1-46-6

6. tvam shuciH bhaviSyasi yadi= you, pure [punctilious,] becomes, if; varSa sahasre puurNe tu= years, thousand, on completing, but; mattaH= from me [by my grace]; trai lokya hantaaram [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 trailokya hantaaram is carried forward from earlier verses of Diti, into the speech of Sage Kaashyapa also. Some have it astrailokya bhartaaram '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.

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evam uktvaa mahaa tejaaH paaNinaa sa mamaarja taam |
tam aalabhya tataH svasti iti uktvaa tapase yayau ||1-46-7

7. mahaa tejaaH= great resplendent [sage]; saH= he, Kaashyapa; evam uktvaa= thus, saying; taam paaNinaa mamaarja= her, with hand, wiped - patted; tam aalabhya tataH= her, on touching [her,] then; svasti iti uktvaa= be blest, thus, on saying; [saH= he, Kaashyapa]; tapase yayau= for ascetic practises, departed.

"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]

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gate tasmin narashreSTha ditiH parama harSitaa |
kushaplavam saamaasaadya tapaH tepe sudaaruNam ||1-46-8

8. narashreSTha= oh, best one among men, Rama; tasmin gate sati= he [Kashyapa];, when gone; ditiH parama harSitaa= Diti, is highly, elated; kushaplavam sam aasaadya= [to a sacred place called] Kushaplava, on reaching; su daaruNam tapaH tepe= highly, rigorous, asceticism, she practised.

"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]

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tapaH tasyaam hi kurvatyaam paricaryaam cakaara ha |
sahasraakSo narashreSTha parayaa guNa sa.mpadaa || 1-46-9

9. nara shreSTha= oh, best among men Rama; tasyaam tapaH kurvatyaam [carantyaam] hi= of her, asceticism, while practising, truly; sahasraakSaH= Thousand-eyed god, - Indra; parayaa guNa sampadaa= with surpassing, veracities, abundance with; 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]

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agnim kushaan kaaSTham apaH phalam muulam tathaiva ca |
nyavedayat sahasraakSo yac ca anyat api kaankSitam ||1-46-10

10. sahasra akSaH= Thousand, eyed god, Indra; agnim kushaan kaaSTham apaH= fire, Kusha grass, firewood, water; phalam tathaiva 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]

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gaatra sa.mvaahanaiH caiva shrama apanayanaiH tathaa |
shakraH sarveSu kaaleSu ditim paricacaara ha || 1-46-11

11. shakraH= Indra; gaatra samvahanaiH ca eva= limbs [body,] massages, also, thus; tathaa= likewise; shrama apa nayanaiH= [bodily] strain, away, sending - by removing; sarveSu kaaleSu= in all, times [all the time]; ditim paricacaara ha= to Diti, served, 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]

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puurNe varSa sahasre dasha uune raghuna.ndana |
ditiH parama sa.mhR^iSTaa sahasraakSam atha abraviit ||1-46-12

12. raghu nandana= oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu; atha= then; varSa sahasre puurNe= years, thousands, to complete; dash uune= ten, less - less than ten years - 999 years; ditiH parama samhR^iSTaa= Diti, highly, rejoiced; sahasra akSam abraviit= to Thousand-eyed god, Indra, spoke to.

"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]

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tapaH carantyaa var.hSaaNi dasha viiryavataam vara |
avashiSTaani bhadram te bhraataram drakSyase tataH ||1-46-13

13. viiryavataam vara= oh, among valiant ones, best one - oh, Indra; tapaH carantyaa= asceticism, to me who am practising; dasha varSaaNi avashiSTaani= ten, years, are remaining; tataH bhraataram drakSyase= then, brother, you can see; 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]

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yam aham tvat kR^ite putra tam aadhaasye jaya utsukam |
trailokya vijayam putra saha bhokSyasi vijvaraH || 1-46-14

14. putra= oh, son - Indra; yam= whom; tvat kR^ite= for your, reason; jaya utsukam= in victory [to conquer you,] enthusiastic one; tam aham aadhaasye= him, I am, bringing up; putra= oh, son, Indra; vi jvara= without, febrility [of enemies]; trai lokya vijayam= three, worlds, victory on; 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]

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yaachitena surashreSTa pitraa tava maahaatmanaa |
varo varSha sasra ante mama dattaH sutam prati || 1-46-15

15. sura shreSTa= oh, best one among gods; yaachitena= on my prayer; maaha aatmanaa tava pitraa= from high-souled one, by your, father- Kaashyapa; varSha sasra ante= years, thousand, at the end of; mama sutam prati= to me, son, towards [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]

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iti uktvaa ca ditiH tatra praapte madhyandina iishvare |
nidrayaa pahR^itaa devii paadau kR^itvaatha shiirSataH ||1-46-16

16. ditiH= Diti; iti uktvaa= thus, saying; dina iishvaraH= day's, lord - Sun; [aakaasha] madhyam praapte= [sky,] in middle, on reaching - at midday; devii= that lady; atha= then; paadau shiirSataH kR^itvaa= two feet, headward, on keeping; tatra= there in that matter of asceticism; nidraya apahR^itaa= by sleep, stolen over.

"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 vratasth˜n˜m div˜ sv˜pa× p˜da sth˜ne þira× sth˜panam ca aþucikaram iti s¨citam - dk Hence her meticulousness is defeated.

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dR^iSTvaa taam ashucim shakraH paadayoH kR^ita muurdhajaam |
shiraH sthaane kR^itau paadau jahaasa ca mumoda ca || 1-46-17

17. shakraH= Indra; paadayoH kR^ita= at feet-side, placing; muurdha jaam= from head, emerging ones - head-hair, braid - braid resting on feet; a + shucim= not, pious one; taam dR^iSTvaa= her [Diti,] on observing; shiraH sthaane kR^itau paadau= head, at the place of, placed, feet; 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]

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tasyaaH shariira vivaram pravivesha pura.ndaraH |
garbham ca saptadhaa raama cicCheda parama aatmavaan ||1-46-18

18. raama= oh Rama; purandaraH= enemy-fastnesses, destroyer - Indra; tasyaaH shariira vivaram= of her [Diti's,] body's, [vaginal] aperture; pravivesha ca= entered, also; parama aatmavaan= highly, courageous one; garbham saptadhaa cicCheda= womb [foetus,] into seven ways [seven fragments,] rent asunder.

"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]

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bhidyamaanaH tato garbho vajreNa shata parvaNaa |
ruroda susvaram raama tato ditiH abudhyata || 1-46-19

19. raama= oh, Rama; tataH= then; shata parvaNaa= which has hundred, cutting edges; vajreNa= with such Thunderbolt; bhidyamaanaH garbhaH= being sliced, womb [foetus]; su svaram= 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]

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maa rudo maa rudaH ca iti garbham shakro abhyabhaaSata |
bibheda ca mahaatejaa rudantam api vaasavaH || 1-46-20

20. maa rudaH maa rudaH= do not, scream, do not, scream; iti shakraH garbham abhi abhaaSata= thus, Indra, to foetus, said - coaxed; mahaa tejaa 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]

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na hantavyam na hantavyam iti evam ditiH abraviit |
niSpapaata tataH shakro maatur vacana gauravaat ||1-46-21

21. ditiH= Diti; na hantavyam na hantavyam= not, killable, not killable; iti evam abraviit= thus, that way, spoke [raved]; tataH= then; shakraH= Indra; maatuH vacana gauravaat= on [step] mother's, words [entreaty,] owing honour to; niS papaata= 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]

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praa.njaliH vajra sahito ditim shakro abhyabhaaSata |
ashuciH devi suptaa asi paadayoH kR^ita muurdhajaa|| 1-46-22

22. vajra sahitaH= Thunderbolt, along with - blood-wet weapon still in hand; shakraH= Indra; pra anjaliH= humbly, adjoining palms; ditim abhyabhaaSata= to Diti, spoke; devi= oh, lady; paadayoH kR^ita muurdhajaa= on feet, made [touching,] head-hair [braid]; a + shuciH= not, pious - you became; [madhya aahne] suptaa asi= [in midday] slept, you have.

"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]

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tat antaram aham labdhvaa shakra hantaaram aahave |
abhindam saptadhaa devi tan me tvam kSantum ar.hhasi || 1-46-23(E)

23. aham= I; tat antaram labdhvaa= that, chance, on gaining; aahave shakra hantaaram= in battle, Indra, [who can become] eliminator; saptadhaa abhindam= in seven ways [seven fragments,] fragmented - the foetus; devi= oh, lady; me tat= my, that - deed; tvam kSantum arhasi you, to pardon, apt of you.

"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]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe SaT catvaarinshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 46th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.