Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 6 Chapter 18

Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

VERSE 6.18.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

pṛśnis tu patnī savituḥ
sāvitrīṁ vyāhṛtiṁ trayīm
agnihotraṁ paśuṁ somaṁ
cāturmāsyaṁ mahā-makhān

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; pṛśniḥ — Pṛśni; tu — then; patnī — wife; savituḥ — of Savitā; sāvitrīm — Sāvitrī; vyāhṛtim — Vyāhṛti; trayīm — Trayī; agnihotram — Agnihotra; paśum — Paśu; somam — Soma; cāturmāsyam — Cāturmāsya; mahā-makhān — the five Mahāyajñas.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Pṛśni, who was the wife of Savitā, the fifth of the twelve sons of Aditi, gave birth to three daughters — Sāvitrī, Vyāhṛti and Trayī — and the sons named Agnihotra, Paśu, Soma, Cāturmāsya and the five Mahāyajñas.

VERSE 6.18.2

siddhir bhagasya bhāryāṅga
mahimānaṁ vibhuṁ prabhum
āśiṣaṁ ca varārohāṁ
kanyāṁ prāsūta suvratām

SYNONYMS

siddhiḥ — Siddhi; bhagasya — of Bhaga; bhāryā — the wife; aṅga — my dear King; mahimānam — Mahimā; vibhum — Vibhu; prabhum — Prabhu; āśiṣam — Āśī; ca — and; varārohām — very beautiful; kanyām — daughter; prāsūta — bore; su-vratām — virtuous.

TRANSLATION

O King, Siddhi, who was the wife of Bhaga, the sixth son of Aditi, bore three sons, named Mahimā, Vibhu and Prabhu, and one extremely beautiful daughter, whose name was Āśī.

VERSE 6.18.3-4

dhātuḥ kuhūḥ sinīvālī
rākā cānumatis tathā
sāyaṁ darśam atha prātaḥ
pūrṇamāsam anukramāt

agnīn purīṣyān ādhatta
kriyāyāṁ samanantaraḥ
carṣaṇī varuṇasyāsīd
yasyāṁ jāto bhṛguḥ punaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhātuḥ — of Dhātā; kuhūḥ — Kuhū; sinīvālī — Sinīvālī; rākā — Rākā; ca — and; anumatiḥ — Anumati; tathā — also; sāyam — Sāyam; darśam — Darśa; atha — also; prātaḥ — Prātaḥ; pūrṇamāsam — Pūrṇamāsa; anukramāt — respectively; agnīn — fire-gods; purīṣyān — called the Purīṣyas; ādhatta — begot; kriyāyām — in Kriyā; samanantaraḥ — the next son, Vidhātā; carṣaṇī — Carṣaṇī; varuṇasya — of Varuṇa; āsīt — was; yasyām — in whom; jātaḥ — took birth; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu; punaḥ — again.

TRANSLATION

Dhātā, the seventh son of Aditi, had four wives, named Kuhū, Sinīvālī, Rākā and Anumati. These wives begot four sons, named Sāyam, Darśa, Prātaḥ and Pūrṇamāsa respectively. The wife of Vidhātā, the eighth son of Aditi, was named Kriyā. In her Vidhātā begot the five fire-gods named the Purīṣyas. The wife of Varuṇa, the ninth son of Aditi, was named Carṣaṇī. Bhṛgu, the son of Brahmā, took birth again in her womb.

VERSE 6.18.5

vālmīkiś ca mahā-yogī
valmīkād abhavat kila
agastyaś ca vasiṣṭhaś ca
mitrā-varuṇayor ṛṣī

SYNONYMS

vālmīkiḥ — Vālmīki; ca — and; mahā-yogī — the great mystic; valmīkāt — from an anthill; abhavat — took birth; kila — indeed; agastyaḥ — Agastya; ca — and; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; ca — also; mitrā-varuṇayoḥ — of Mitra and Varuṇa; ṛṣī — the two sages.

TRANSLATION

By the semen of Varuṇa, the great mystic Vālmīki took birth from an anthill. Bhṛgu and Vālmīki were specific sons of Varuṇa, whereas Agastya and Vasiṣṭha Ṛṣis were the common sons of Varuṇa and Mitra, the tenth son of Aditi.

VERSE 6.18.6

retaḥ siṣicatuḥ kumbhe
urvaśyāḥ sannidhau drutam
revatyāṁ mitra utsargam
ariṣṭaṁ pippalaṁ vyadhāt

SYNONYMS

retaḥ — semen; siṣicatuḥ — discharged; kumbhe — in an earthen pot; urvaśyāḥ — of Urvaśī; sannidhau — in the presence; drutam — flown; revatyām — in Revatī; mitraḥ — Mitra; utsargam — Utsarga; ariṣṭam — Ariṣṭa; pippalam — Pippala; vyadhāt — begot.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing Urvaśī, the celestial society girl, both Mitra and Varuṇa discharged semen, which they preserved in an earthen pot. The two sons Agastya and Vasiṣṭha later appeared from that pot, and they are therefore the common sons of Mitra and Varuṇa. Mitra begot three sons in the womb of his wife, whose name was Revatī. Their names were Utsarga, Ariṣṭa and Pippala.

VERSE 6.18.7

paulomyām indra ādhatta
trīn putrān iti naḥ śrutam
jayantam ṛṣabhaṁ tāta
tṛtīyaṁ mīḍhuṣaṁ prabhuḥ

SYNONYMS

paulomyām — in Paulomī (Śacīdevī); indraḥ — Indra; ādhatta — begot; trīn — three; putrān — sons; iti — thus; naḥ — by us; śrutam — heard; jayantam — Jayanta; ṛṣabham — Ṛṣabha; tāta — my dear King; tṛtīyam — third; mīḍhuṣam — Mīḍhuṣa; prabhuḥ — the lord.

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, Indra, the King of the heavenly planets and eleventh son of Aditi, begot three sons, named Jayanta, Ṛṣabha and Mīḍhuṣa, in the womb of his wife, Paulomī. Thus we have heard.

VERSE 6.18.8

urukramasya devasya
māyā-vāmana-rūpiṇaḥ
kīrtau patnyāṁ bṛhacchlokas
tasyāsan saubhagādayaḥ

SYNONYMS

urukramasya — of Urukrama; devasya — the Lord; māyā — by His internal potency; vāmana-rūpiṇaḥ — having the form of a dwarf; kīrtau — in Kīrti; patnyām — His wife; bṛhacchlokaḥ — Bṛhatśloka; tasya — of him; āsan — were; saubhaga-ādayaḥ — sons beginning with Saubhaga.

TRANSLATION

By His own potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has multifarious potencies, appeared in the form of a dwarf as Urukrama, the twelfth son of Aditi. In the womb of His wife, whose name was Kīrti, He begot one son, named Bṛhatśloka, who had many sons, headed by Saubhaga.

VERSE 6.18.9

tat-karma-guṇa-vīryāṇi
kāśyapasya mahātmanaḥ
paścād vakṣyāmahe ’dityāṁ
yathaivāvatatāra ha

SYNONYMS

tat — His; karma — activities; guṇa — qualities; vīryāṇi — and power; kāśyapasya — of the son of Kaśyapa; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the great soul; paścāt — later; vakṣyāmahe — I shall describe; adityām — in Aditi; yathā — how; eva — certainly; avatatāra — descended; ha — indeed.

TRANSLATION

Later [in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam] I shall describe how Urukrama, Lord Vāmanadeva, appeared as the son of the great sage Kaśyapa and how He covered the three worlds with three steps. I shall describe the uncommon activities He performed, His qualities, His power and how He took birth from the womb of Aditi.

VERSE 6.18.10

atha kaśyapa-dāyādān
daiteyān kīrtayāmi te
yatra bhāgavataḥ śrīmān
prahrādo balir eva ca

SYNONYMS

atha — now; kaśyapa-dāyādān — the sons of Kaśyapa; daiteyān — born of Diti; kīrtayāmi — I shall describe; te — to you; yatra — where; bhāgavataḥ — the great devotee; śrī-mān — glorious; prahrādaḥ — Prahlāda; baliḥ — Bali; eva — certainly; ca — also.

TRANSLATION

Now let me describe the sons of Diti, who were begotten by Kaśyapa but who became demons. In this demoniac family the great devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared, and Bali Mahārāja also appeared in that family. The demons are technically known as Daityas because they proceeded from the womb of Diti.

VERSE 6.18.11

diter dvāv eva dāyādau
daitya-dānava-vanditau
hiraṇyakaśipur nāma
hiraṇyākṣaś ca kīrtitau

SYNONYMS

diteḥ — of Diti; dvau — two; eva — certainly; dāyādau — sons; daitya-dānava — by the Daityas and Dānavas; vanditau — worshiped; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu; nāma — named; hiraṇyākṣaḥ — Hiraṇyākṣa; ca — also; kīrtitau — known.

TRANSLATION

First the two sons named Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa took birth from Diti’s womb. Both of them were very powerful and were worshiped by the Daityas and Dānavas.

VERSE 6.18.12-13

hiraṇyakaśipor bhāryā
kayādhur nāma dānavī
jambhasya tanayā sā tu
suṣuve caturaḥ sutān

saṁhrādaṁ prāg anuhrādaṁ
hrādaṁ prahrādam eva ca
tat-svasā siṁhikā nāma
rāhuṁ vipracito ’grahīt

SYNONYMS

hiraṇyakaśipoḥ — of Hiraṇyakaśipu; bhāryā — the wife; kayādhuḥ — Kayādhu; nāma — named; dānavī — descendant of Danu; jambhasya — of Jambha; tanayā — daughter; — she; tu — indeed; suṣuve — gave birth to; caturaḥ — four; sutān — sons; saṁhrādam — Saṁhlāda; prāk — first; anuhrādam — Anuhlāda; hrādam — Hlāda; prahrādam — Prahlāda; eva — also; ca — and; tat-svasā — his sister; siṁhikā — Siṁhikā; nāma — named; rāhum — Rāhu; vipracitaḥ — from Vipracit; agrahīt — received.

TRANSLATION

The wife of Hiraṇyakaśipu was known as Kayādhu. She was the daughter of Jambha and a descendant of Danu. She gave birth to four consecutive sons, known as Saṁhlāda, Anuhlāda, Hlāda and Prahlāda. The sister of these four sons was known as Siṁhikā. She married the demon named Vipracit and gave birth to another demon, named Rāhu.

VERSE 6.18.14

śiro ’harad yasya hariś
cakreṇa pibato ’mṛtam
saṁhrādasya kṛtir bhāryā-
sūta pañcajanaṁ tataḥ

SYNONYMS

śiraḥ — the head; aharat — cut off; yasya — of whom; hariḥ — Hari; cakreṇa — with the disc; pibataḥ — drinking; amṛtam — nectar; saṁhrādasya — of Saṁhlāda; kṛtiḥ — Kṛti; bhāryā — the wife; asūta — gave birth to; pañcajanam — Pañcajana; tataḥ — from him.

TRANSLATION

While Rāhu, in disguise, was drinking nectar among the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead severed his head. The wife of Saṁhlāda was named Kṛti. By union with Saṁhlāda, Kṛti gave birth to a son named Pañcajana.

VERSE 6.18.15

hrādasya dhamanir bhāryā-
sūta vātāpim ilvalam
yo ’gastyāya tv atithaye
pece vātāpim ilvalaḥ

SYNONYMS

hrādasya — of Hlāda; dhamaniḥ — Dhamani; bhāryā — the wife; asūta — gave birth to; vātāpim — Vātāpi; ilvalam — Ilvala; yaḥ — he who; agastyāya — to Agastya; tu — but; atithaye — his guest; pece — cooked; vātāpim — Vātāpi; ilvalaḥ — Ilvala.

TRANSLATION

The wife of Hlāda was named Dhamani. She gave birth to two sons, named Vātāpi and Ilvala. When Agastya Muni became Ilvala’s guest, Ilvala served him a feast by cooking Vātāpi, who was in the shape of a ram.

VERSE 6.18.16

anuhrādasya sūryāyāṁ
bāṣkalo mahiṣas tathā
virocanas tu prāhrādir
devyāṁ tasyābhavad baliḥ

SYNONYMS

anuhrādasya — of Anuhlāda; sūryāyām — through Sūryā; bāṣkalaḥ — Bāṣkala; mahiṣaḥ — Mahiṣa; tathā — also; virocanaḥ — Virocana; tu — indeed; prāhrādiḥ — the son of Prahlāda; devyām — through his wife; tasya — of him; abhavat — was; baliḥ — Bali.

TRANSLATION

The wife of Anuhlāda was named Sūryā. She gave birth to two sons, named Bāṣkala and Mahiṣa. Prahlāda had one son, Virocana, whose wife gave birth to Bali Mahārāja.

VERSE 6.18.17

bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaṁ putra-śatam
aśanāyāṁ tato ’bhavat
tasyānubhāvaṁ suślokyaṁ
paścād evābhidhāsyate

SYNONYMS

bāṇa-jyeṣṭham — having Bāṇa as the eldest; putra-śatam — one hundred sons; aśanāyām — through Aśanā; tataḥ — from him; abhavat — there were; tasya — his; anubhāvam — character; su-ślokyam — laudable; paścāt — later; eva — certainly; abhidhāsyate — will be described.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Bali Mahārāja begot one hundred sons in the womb of Aśanā. Of these one hundred sons, King Bāṇa was the eldest. The activities of Bali Mahārāja, which are very laudable, will be described later [in the Eighth Canto].

VERSE 6.18.18

bāṇa ārādhya giriśaṁ
lebhe tad-gaṇa-mukhyatām
yat-pārśve bhagavān āste
hy adyāpi pura-pālakaḥ

SYNONYMS

bāṇaḥ — Bāṇa; ārādhya — having worshiped; giriśam — Lord Śiva; lebhe — obtained; tat — of him (Lord Śiva); gaṇa-mukhyatām — the platform of being one of the chief associates; yat-pārśve — beside whom; bhagavān — Lord Śiva; āste — remains; hi — because of which; adya — now; api — even; pura-pālakaḥ — the protector of the capital.

TRANSLATION

Since King Bāṇa was a great worshiper of Lord Śiva, he became one of Lord Śiva’s most celebrated associates. Even now, Lord Śiva protects King Bāṇa’s capital and always stands beside him.

VERSE 6.18.19

marutaś ca diteḥ putrāś
catvāriṁśan navādhikāḥ
ta āsann aprajāḥ sarve
nītā indreṇa sātmatām

SYNONYMS

marutaḥ — the Maruts; ca — and; diteḥ — of Diti; putrāḥ — sons; catvāriṁśat — forty; nava-adhikāḥ — plus nine; te — they; āsan — were; aprajāḥ — without sons; sarve — all; nītāḥ — were brought; indreṇa — by Indra; sa-ātmatām — to the position of demigods.

TRANSLATION

The forty-nine Marut demigods were also born from the womb of Diti. None of them had sons. Although they were born of Diti, King Indra gave them a position as demigods.

VERSE 6.18.20

śrī-rājovāca

kathaṁ ta āsuraṁ bhāvam
apohyautpattikaṁ guro
indreṇa prāpitāḥ sātmyaṁ
kiṁ tat sādhu kṛtaṁ hi taiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-rājā uvāca — King Parīkṣit said; katham — why; te — they; āsuram — demoniac; bhāvam — mentality; apohya — giving up; autpattikam — due to birth; guro — my dear lord; indreṇa — by Indra; prāpitāḥ — were converted; sa-ātmyam — to demigods; kim — whether; tat — therefore; sādhu — pious activities; kṛtam — performed; hi — indeed; taiḥ — by them.

TRANSLATION

King Parīkṣit inquired: My dear lord, due to their birth, the forty-nine Maruts must have been obsessed with a demoniac mentality. Why did Indra, the King of heaven, convert them into demigods? Did they perform any rituals or pious activities?

VERSE 6.18.21

ime śraddadhate brahmann
ṛṣayo hi mayā saha
parijñānāya bhagavaṁs
tan no vyākhyātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

ime — these; śraddadhate — are eager; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; ṛṣayaḥ — sages; hi — indeed; mayā saha — with me; parijñānāya — to know; bhagavan — O great soul; tat — therefore; naḥ — to us; vyākhyātum arhasi — please explain.

TRANSLATION

My dear brāhmaṇa, I and all the sages present with me are eager to know about this. Therefore, O great soul, kindly explain to us the reason.

VERSE 6.18.22

śrī-sūta uvāca

tad viṣṇurātasya sa bādarāyaṇir
vaco niśamyādṛtam alpam arthavat
sabhājayan san nibhṛtena cetasā
jagāda satrāyaṇa sarva-darśanaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; tat — those; viṣṇurātasya — of Mahārāja Parīkṣit; saḥ — he; bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śukadeva Gosvāmī; vacaḥ — words; niśamya — hearing; ādṛtam — respectful; alpam — brief; artha-vat — meaningful; sabhājayan san — praising; nibhṛtena cetasā — with great pleasure; jagāda — replied; satrāyaṇa — O Śaunaka; sarva-darśanaḥ — who is aware of everything.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: O great sage Śaunaka, after hearing Mahārāja Parīkṣit speak respectfully and briefly on topics essential to hear, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was well aware of everything, praised his endeavor with great pleasure and replied.

VERSE 6.18.23

śrī-śuka uvāca

hata-putrā ditiḥ śakra-
pārṣṇi-grāheṇa viṣṇunā
manyunā śoka-dīptena
jvalantī paryacintayat

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; hata-putrā — whose sons were killed; ditiḥ — Diti; śakra-pārṣṇi-grāheṇa — who was helping Lord Indra; viṣṇunā — by Lord Viṣṇu; manyunā — with anger; śoka-dīptena — kindled by lamentation; jvalantī — burning; paryacintayat — thought.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Just to help Indra, Lord Viṣṇu killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Because of their being killed, their mother, Diti, overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, contemplated as follows.

VERSE 6.18.24

kadā nu bhrātṛ-hantāram
indriyārāmam ulbaṇam
aklinna-hṛdayaṁ pāpaṁ
ghātayitvā śaye sukham

SYNONYMS

kadā — when; nu — indeed; bhrātṛ-hantāram — the killer of the brothers; indriya-ārāmam — very fond of sense gratification; ulbaṇam — cruel; aklinna-hṛdayam — hard hearted; pāpam — sinful; ghātayitvā — having caused to be killed; śaye — shall I rest; sukham — happily.

TRANSLATION

Lord Indra, who is very much fond of sense gratification, has killed the two brothers Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu by means of Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore Indra is cruel, hardhearted and sinful. When will I, having killed him, rest with a pacified mind?

VERSE 6.18.25

kṛmi-viḍ-bhasma-saṁjñāsīd
yasyeśābhihitasya ca
bhūta-dhruk tat-kṛte svārthaṁ
kiṁ veda nirayo yataḥ

SYNONYMS

kṛmi — worms; viṭ — stool; bhasma — ashes; saṁjñā — name; āsīt — becomes; yasya — of which (body); īśa-abhihitasya — although designated as king; ca — also; bhūta-dhruk — he who harms others; tat-kṛte — for the sake of that; sva-artham — his self-interest; kim veda — does he know; nirayaḥ — punishment in hell; yataḥ — from which.

TRANSLATION

When dead, the bodies of all the rulers known as kings and great leaders will be transformed into worms, stool or ashes. If one enviously kills others for the protection of such a body, does he actually know the true interest of life? Certainly he does not, for if one is envious of other entities, he surely goes to hell.

VERSE 6.18.26

āśāsānasya tasyedaṁ
dhruvam unnaddha-cetasaḥ
mada-śoṣaka indrasya
bhūyād yena suto hi me

SYNONYMS

āśāsānasya — thinking; tasya — of him; idam — this (body); dhruvam — eternal; unnaddha-cetasaḥ — whose mind is unrestrained; mada-śoṣakaḥ — who can remove the madness; indrasya — of Indra; bhūyāt — may there be; yena — by which; sutaḥ — a son; hi — certainly; me — of me.

TRANSLATION

Diti thought: Indra considers his body eternal, and thus he has become unrestrained. I therefore wish to have a son who can remove Indra’s madness. Let me adopt some means to help me in this.

VERSE 6.18.27-28

iti bhāvena sā bhartur
ācacārāsakṛt priyam
śuśrūṣayānurāgeṇa
praśrayeṇa damena ca

bhaktyā paramayā rājan
manojñair valgu-bhāṣitaiḥ
mano jagrāha bhāva-jñā
sasmitāpāṅga-vīkṣaṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; bhāvena — with the intention; — she; bhartuḥ — of the husband; ācacāra — performed; asakṛt — constantly; priyam — pleasing activities; śuśrūṣayā — with service; anurāgeṇa — with love; praśrayeṇa — with humility; damena — with self-control; ca — also; bhaktyā — with devotion; paramayā — great; rājan — O King; manojñaiḥ — charming; valgu-bhāṣitaiḥ — with sweet words; manaḥ — his mind; jagrāha — brought under her control; bhāva-jñā — knowing his nature; sa-smita — with smiling; apāṅga-vīkṣaṇaiḥ — by glancing.

TRANSLATION

Thinking in this way [with a desire for a son to kill Indra], Diti began constantly acting to satisfy Kaśyapa by her pleasing behavior. O King, Diti always carried out Kaśyapa’s orders very faithfully, as he desired. With service, love, humility and control, with words spoken very sweetly to satisfy her husband, and with smiles and glances at him, Diti attracted his mind and brought it under her control.

VERSE 6.18.29

evaṁ striyā jaḍībhūto
vidvān api manojñayā
bāḍham ity āha vivaśo
na tac citraṁ hi yoṣiti

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; striyā — by the woman; jaḍībhūtaḥ — enchanted; vidvān — very learned; api — although; manojñayā — very expert; bāḍham — yes; iti — thus; āha — said; vivaśaḥ — under her control; na — not; tat — that; citram — astonishing; hi — indeed; yoṣiti — in the matter of women.

TRANSLATION

Although Kaśyapa Muni was a learned scholar, he was captivated by Diti’s artificial behavior, which brought him under her control. Therefore he assured his wife that he would fulfill her desires. Such a promise by a husband is not at all astonishing.

VERSE 6.18.30

vilokyaikānta-bhūtāni
bhūtāny ādau prajāpatiḥ
striyaṁ cakre sva-dehārdhaṁ
yayā puṁsāṁ matir hṛtā

SYNONYMS

vilokya — seeing; ekānta-bhūtāni — detached; bhūtāni — the living entities; ādau — in the beginning; prajāpatiḥ — Lord Brahmā; striyam — the woman; cakre — created; sva-deha — of his body; ardham — half; yayā — by whom; puṁsām — of men; matiḥ — the mind; hṛtā — carried away.

TRANSLATION

In the beginning of creation, Lord Brahmā, the father of the living entities of the universe, saw that all the living entities were unattached. To increase population, he then created woman from the better half of man’s body, for woman’s behavior carries away a man’s mind.

VERSE 6.18.31

evaṁ śuśrūṣitas tāta
bhagavān kaśyapaḥ striyā
prahasya parama-prīto
ditim āhābhinandya ca

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; śuśrūṣitaḥ — being served; tāta — O dear one; bhagavān — the powerful; kaśyapaḥ — Kaśyapa; striyā — by the woman; prahasya — smiling; parama-prītaḥ — being very pleased; ditim — to Diti; āha — said; abhinandya — approving; ca — also.

TRANSLATION

O my dear one, the most powerful sage Kaśyapa, being extremely pleased by the mild behavior of his wife Diti, smiled and spoke to her as follows.

VERSE 6.18.32

śrī-kaśyapa uvāca

varaṁ varaya vāmoru
prītas te ’ham anindite
striyā bhartari suprīte
kaḥ kāma iha cāgamaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-kaśyapaḥ uvāca — Kaśyapa Muni said; varam — benediction; varaya — ask; vāmoru — O beautiful woman; prītaḥ — pleased; te — with you; aham — I; anindite — O irreproachable lady; striyāḥ — for the woman; bhartari — when the husband; su-prīte — pleased; kaḥ — what; kāmaḥ — desire; iha — here; ca — and; agamaḥ — difficult to obtain.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni said: O beautiful woman, O irreproachable lady, since I am very much pleased by your behavior, you may ask me for any benediction you want. If a husband is pleased, what desires are difficult for his wife to obtain, either in this world or in the next?

VERSE 6.18.33-34

patir eva hi nārīṇāṁ
daivataṁ paramaṁ smṛtam
mānasaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
vāsudevaḥ śriyaḥ patiḥ

sa eva devatā-liṅgair
nāma-rūpa-vikalpitaiḥ
ijyate bhagavān pumbhiḥ
strībhiś ca pati-rūpa-dhṛk

SYNONYMS

patiḥ — the husband; eva — indeed; hi — certainly; nārīṇām — of women; daivatam — demigod; paramam — supreme; smṛtam — is considered; mānasaḥ — situated in the heart; sarva-bhūtānām — of all living entities; vāsudevaḥ — Vāsudeva; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; patiḥ — the husband; saḥ — He; eva — certainly; devatā-liṅgaiḥ — by the forms of the demigods; nāma — names; rūpa — forms; vikalpitaiḥ — conceived; ijyate — is worshiped; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pumbhiḥ — by men; strībhiḥ — by women; ca — also; pati-rūpa-dhṛk — in the form of the husband.

TRANSLATION

A husband is the supreme demigod for a woman. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vāsudeva, the husband of the goddess of fortune, is situated in everyone’s heart and is worshiped through the various names and forms of the demigods by fruitive workers. Similarly, a husband represents the Lord as the object of worship for a woman.

VERSE 6.18.35

tasmāt pati-vratā nāryaḥ
śreyas-kāmāḥ sumadhyame
yajante ’nanya-bhāvena
patim ātmānam īśvaram

SYNONYMS

tasmāt — therefore; pati-vratāḥ — devoted to the husband; nāryaḥ — women; śreyaḥ-kāmāḥ — conscientious; su-madhyame — O thin-waisted woman; yajante — worship; ananya-bhāvena — with devotion; patim — the husband; ātmānam — the Supersoul; īśvaram — representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

My dear wife, whose body is so beautiful, your waist being thin, a conscientious wife should be chaste and should abide by the orders of her husband. She should very devoutly worship her husband as a representative of Vāsudeva.

VERSE 6.18.36

so ’haṁ tvayārcito bhadre
īdṛg-bhāvena bhaktitaḥ
taṁ te sampādaye kāmam
asatīnāṁ sudurlabham

SYNONYMS

saḥ — such a person; aham — I; tvayā — by you; arcitaḥ — worshiped; bhadre — O gentle woman; īdṛk-bhāvena — in such a way; bhaktitaḥ — with devotion; tam — that; te — your; sampādaye — shall fulfill; kāmam — desire; asatīnām — for unchaste women; su-durlabham — not obtainable.

TRANSLATION

My dear gentle wife, because you have worshiped me with great devotion, considering me a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I shall reward you by fulfilling your desires, which are unobtainable for an unchaste wife.

VERSE 6.18.37

ditir uvāca

varado yadi me brahman
putram indra-haṇaṁ vṛṇe
amṛtyuṁ mṛta-putrāhaṁ
yena me ghātitau sutau

SYNONYMS

ditiḥ uvāca — Diti said; vara-daḥ — the giver of benedictions; yadi — if; me — to me; brahman — O great soul; putram — a son; indra-haṇam — who can kill Indra; vṛṇe — I am asking for; amṛtyum — immortal; mṛta-putrā — whose sons are dead; aham — I; yena — by whom; me — my; ghātitau — were caused to be killed; sutau — two sons.

TRANSLATION

Diti replied: O my husband, O great soul, I have now lost my sons. If you want to give me a benediction, I ask you for an immortal son who can kill Indra. I pray for this because Indra, with the help of Viṣṇu, has killed my two sons Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu.

VERSE 6.18.38

niśamya tad-vaco vipro
vimanāḥ paryatapyata
aho adharmaḥ sumahān
adya me samupasthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

niśamya — hearing; tat-vacaḥ — her words; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa; vimanāḥ — aggrieved; paryatapyata — lamented; aho — alas; adharmaḥ — impiety; su-mahān — very great; adya — today; me — upon me; samupasthitaḥ — has come.

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing Diti’s request, Kaśyapa Muni was very much aggrieved. “Alas,” he lamented, “now I face the danger of the impious act of killing Indra.”

VERSE 6.18.39

aho arthendriyārāmo
yoṣin-mayyeha māyayā
gṛhīta-cetāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ
patiṣye narake dhruvam

SYNONYMS

aho — alas; artha-indriya-ārāmaḥ — too attached to material enjoyment; yoṣit-mayyā — in the form of a woman; iha — here; māyayā — by the illusory energy; gṛhīta-cetāḥ — my mind being captivated; kṛpaṇaḥ — wretched; patiṣye — I shall fall; narake — to hell; dhruvam — surely.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni thought: Alas, I have now become too attached to material enjoyment. Taking advantage of this, my mind has been attracted by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a woman [my wife]. Therefore I am surely a wretched person who will glide down toward hell.

VERSE 6.18.40

ko ’tikramo ’nuvartantyāḥ
svabhāvam iha yoṣitaḥ
dhiṅ māṁ batābudhaṁ svārthe
yad ahaṁ tv ajitendriyaḥ

SYNONYMS

kaḥ — what; atikramaḥ — offense; anuvartantyāḥ — following; sva-bhāvam — her nature; iha — here; yoṣitaḥ — of the woman; dhik — condemnation; mām — unto me; bata — alas; abudham — not conversant; sva-arthe — in what is good for me; yat — because; aham — I; tu — indeed; ajita-indriyaḥ — unable to control my senses.

TRANSLATION

This woman, my wife, has adopted a means that follows her nature, and therefore she is not to be blamed. But I am a man. Therefore, all condemnation upon me! I am not at all conversant with what is good for me, since I could not control my senses.

VERSE 6.18.41

śarat-padmotsavaṁ vaktraṁ
vacaś ca śravaṇāmṛtam
hṛdayaṁ kṣura-dhārābhaṁ
strīṇāṁ ko veda ceṣṭitam

SYNONYMS

śarat — in the autumn; padma — a lotus flower; utsavam — blossoming; vaktram — face; vacaḥ — words; ca — and; śravaṇa — to the ear; amṛtam — giving pleasure; hṛdayam — heart; kṣura-dhārā — the blade of a razor; ābham — like; strīṇām — of women; kaḥ — who; veda — knows; ceṣṭitam — the dealings.

TRANSLATION

A woman’s face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear, but if we study a woman’s heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp, like the blade of a razor. In these circumstances, who could understand the dealings of a woman?

VERSE 6.18.42

na hi kaścit priyaḥ strīṇām
añjasā svāśiṣātmanām
patiṁ putraṁ bhrātaraṁ vā
ghnanty arthe ghātayanti ca

SYNONYMS

na — not; hi — certainly; kaścit — anyone; priyaḥ — dear; strīṇām — to women; añjasā — actually; sva-āśiṣā — for their own interests; ātmanām — most dear; patim — husband; putram — son; bhrātaram — brother; — or; ghnanti — they kill; arthe — for their own interests; ghātayanti — cause to be killed; ca — also.

TRANSLATION

To satisfy their own interests, women deal with men as if the men were most dear to them, but no one is actually dear to them. Women are supposed to be very saintly, but for their own interests they can kill even their husbands, sons or brothers, or cause them to be killed by others.

VERSE 6.18.43

pratiśrutaṁ dadāmīti
vacas tan na mṛṣā bhavet
vadhaṁ nārhati cendro ’pi
tatredam upakalpate

SYNONYMS

pratiśrutam — promised; dadāmi — I shall give; iti — thus; vacaḥ — statement; tat — that; na — not; mṛṣā — false; bhavet — can be; vadham — killing; na — not; arhati — is suitable; ca — and; indraḥ — Indra; api — also; tatra — in that connection; idam — this; upakalpate — is suitable.

TRANSLATION

I promised to give her a benediction, and this promise cannot be violated, but Indra does not deserve to be killed. In these circumstances, the solution I have is quite suitable.

VERSE 6.18.44

iti sañcintya bhagavān
mārīcaḥ kurunandana
uvāca kiñcit kupita
ātmānaṁ ca vigarhayan

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; sañcintya — thinking; bhagavān — the powerful; mārīcaḥ — Kaśyapa Muni; kuru-nandana — O descendant of Kuru; uvāca — spoke; kiñcit — somewhat; kupitaḥ — angry; ātmānam — himself; ca — and; vigarhayan — condemning.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Kaśyapa Muni, thinking in this way, became somewhat angry. Condemning himself, O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, descendant of Kuru, he spoke to Diti as follows.

VERSE 6.18.45

śrī-kaśyapa uvāca

putras te bhavitā bhadre
indra-hādeva-bāndhavaḥ
saṁvatsaraṁ vratam idaṁ
yady añjo dhārayiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

śrī-kaśyapaḥ uvāca — Kaśyapa Muni said; putraḥ — son; te — your; bhavitā — will be; bhadre — O gentle woman; indra- — killer of Indra, or follower of Indra; adeva-bāndhavaḥ — friend of the demons (or deva-bāndhavaḥ — friend of the demigods); saṁvatsaram — for a year; vratam — vow; idam — this; yadi — if; añjaḥ — properly; dhārayiṣyasi — you will execute.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni said: My dear gentle wife, if you follow my instructions regarding this vow for at least one year, you will surely get a son who will be able to kill Indra. However, if you deviate from this vow of following the Vaiṣṇava principles, you will get a son who will be favorable to Indra.

VERSE 6.18.46

ditir uvāca

dhārayiṣye vrataṁ brahman
brūhi kāryāṇi yāni me
yāni ceha niṣiddhāni
na vrataṁ ghnanti yāny uta

SYNONYMS

ditiḥ uvāca — Diti said; dhārayiṣye — I shall accept; vratam — vow; brahman — my dear brāhmaṇa; brūhi — please state; kāryāṇi — must be done; yāni — what; me — to me; yāni — what; ca — and; iha — here; niṣiddhāni — is forbidden; na — not; vratam — the vow; ghnanti — break; yāni — what; uta — also.

TRANSLATION

Diti replied: My dear brāhmaṇa, I must accept your advice and follow the vow. Now let me understand what I have to do, what is forbidden and what will not break the vow. Please clearly state all this to me.

VERSE 6.18.47

śrī-kaśyapa uvāca

na hiṁsyād bhūta-jātāni
na śapen nānṛtaṁ vadet
na chindyān nakha-romāṇi
na spṛśed yad amaṅgalam

SYNONYMS

śrī-kaśyapaḥ uvāca — Kaśyapa Muni said; na hiṁsyāt — must not harm; bhūta-jātāni — the living entities; na śapet — must not curse; na — not; anṛtam — a lie; vadet — must speak; na chindyāt — must not cut; nakha-romāṇi — the nails and hair; na spṛśet — must not touch; yat — that which; amaṅgalam — impure.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni said: My dear wife, to follow this vow, do not be violent or cause harm to anyone. Do not curse anyone, and do not speak lies. Do not cut your nails and hair, and do not touch impure things like skulls and bones.

VERSE 6.18.48

nāpsu snāyān na kupyeta
na sambhāṣeta durjanaiḥ
na vasītādhauta-vāsaḥ
srajaṁ ca vidhṛtāṁ kvacit

SYNONYMS

na — not; apsu — in water; snāyāt — must bathe; na kupyeta — must not become angry; na sambhāṣeta — must not speak; durjanaiḥ — with wicked persons; na vasīta — must not wear; adhauta-vāsaḥ — unwashed clothes; srajam — flower garland; ca — and; vidhṛtām — which was already worn; kvacit — ever.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni continued: My dear gentle wife, never enter the water while bathing, never be angry, and do not even speak or associate with wicked people. Never wear clothes that have not been properly washed, and do not put on a garland that has already been worn.

VERSE 6.18.49

nocchiṣṭaṁ caṇḍikānnaṁ ca
sāmiṣaṁ vṛṣalāhṛtam
bhuñjītodakyayā dṛṣṭaṁ
piben nāñjalinā tv apaḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; ucchiṣṭam — leftover food; caṇḍikā-annam — food offered to the goddess Kālī; ca — and; sa-āmiṣam — mixed with flesh; vṛṣala-āhṛtam — brought by a śūdra; bhuñjīta — must eat; udakyayā — by a woman in her menstrual period; dṛṣṭam — seen; pibet na — must not drink; añjalinā — by joining and cupping the two palms; tu — also; apaḥ — water.

TRANSLATION

Never eat leftover food, never eat prasāda offered to the goddess Kālī [Durgā], and do not eat anything contaminated by flesh or fish. Do not eat anything brought or touched by a śūdra nor anything seen by a woman in her menstrual period. Do not drink water by joining your palms.

VERSE 6.18.50

nocchiṣṭāspṛṣṭa-salilā
sandhyāyāṁ mukta-mūrdhajā
anarcitāsaṁyata-vāk
nāsaṁvītā bahiś caret

SYNONYMS

na — not; ucchiṣṭā — after eating; aspṛṣṭa-salilā — without washing; sandhyāyām — in the evening; mukta-mūrdhajā — with the hair loose; anarcitā — without ornaments; asaṁyata-vāk — without being grave; na — not; asaṁvītā — without being covered; bahiḥ — outside; caret — should go.

TRANSLATION

After eating, you should not go out to the street without having washed your mouth, hands and feet. You should not go out in the evening or with your hair loose, nor should you go out unless you are properly decorated with ornaments. You should not leave the house unless you are very grave and are sufficiently covered.

VERSE 6.18.51

nādhauta-pādāprayatā
nārdra-pādā udak-śirāḥ
śayīta nāparāṅ nānyair
na nagnā na ca sandhyayoḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; adhauta-pādā — without washing the feet; aprayatā — without being purified; na — not; ardra-pādā — with wet feet; udak-śirāḥ — with the head toward the north; śayīta — should lie down; na — not; aparāk — with the head pointed west; na — not; anyaiḥ — with other women; na — not; nagnā — naked; na — not; ca — and; sandhyayoḥ — at sunrise and sunset.

TRANSLATION

You should not lie down without having washed both of your feet or without being purified, nor with wet feet or with your head pointed west or north. You should not lie naked, or with other women, or during the sunrise or sunset.

VERSE 6.18.52

dhauta-vāsā śucir nityaṁ
sarva-maṅgala-saṁyutā
pūjayet prātarāśāt prāg
go-viprāñ śriyam acyutam

SYNONYMS

dhauta-vāsā — wearing washed cloth; śuciḥ — being purified; nityam — always; sarva-maṅgala — with all auspicious items; saṁyutā — adorned; pūjayet — one should worship; prātaḥ-āśāt prāk — before breakfast; go-viprān — the cows and brāhmaṇas; śriyam — the goddess of fortune; acyutam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Putting on washed clothing, being always pure and being adorned with turmeric, sandalwood pulp and other auspicious items, before breakfast one should worship the cows, the brāhmaṇas, the goddess of fortune and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

VERSE 6.18.53

striyo vīravatīś cārcet
srag-gandha-bali-maṇḍanaiḥ
patiṁ cārcyopatiṣṭheta
dhyāyet koṣṭha-gataṁ ca tam

SYNONYMS

striyaḥ — women; vīra-vatīḥ — possessing husbands and sons; ca — and; arcet — she should worship; srak — with garlands; gandha — sandalwood; bali — presentations; maṇḍanaiḥ — and with ornaments; patim — the husband; ca — and; ārcya — worshiping; upatiṣṭheta — should offer prayers; dhyāyet — should meditate; koṣṭha-gatam — situated in the womb; ca — also; tam — upon him.

TRANSLATION

With flower garlands, sandalwood pulp, ornaments and other paraphernalia, a woman following this vow should worship women who have sons and whose husbands are living. The pregnant wife should worship her husband and offer him prayers. She should meditate upon him, thinking that he is situated in her womb.

VERSE 6.18.54

sāṁvatsaraṁ puṁsavanaṁ
vratam etad aviplutam
dhārayiṣyasi cet tubhyaṁ
śakra-hā bhavitā sutaḥ

SYNONYMS

sāṁvatsaram — for one year; puṁsavanam — called puṁsavana; vratam — vow; etat — this; aviplutam — without violation; dhārayiṣyasi — you will perform; cet — if; tubhyam — for you; śakra- — the killer of Indra; bhavitā — will be; sutaḥ — a son.

TRANSLATION

Kaśyapa Muni continued: If you perform this ceremony called puṁsavana, adhering to the vow with faith for at least one year, you will give birth to a son destined to kill Indra. But if there is any discrepancy in the discharge of this vow, the son will be a friend to Indra.

VERSE 6.18.55

bāḍham ity abhyupetyātha
ditī rājan mahā-manāḥ
kaśyapād garbham ādhatta
vrataṁ cāñjo dadhāra sā

SYNONYMS

bāḍham — yes; iti — thus; abhyupetya — accepting; atha — then; ditiḥ — Diti; rājan — O King; mahā-manāḥ — jubilant; kaśyapāt — from Kaśyapa; garbham — semen; ādhatta — obtained; vratam — the vow; ca — and; añjaḥ — properly; dadhāra — discharged; — she.

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, Diti, the wife of Kaśyapa, agreed to undergo the purificatory process known as puṁsavana. “Yes,” she said, “I shall do everything according to your instructions.” With great jubilation she became pregnant, having taken semen from Kaśyapa, and faithfully began discharging the vow.

VERSE 6.18.56

mātṛ-ṣvasur abhiprāyam
indra ājñāya mānada
śuśrūṣaṇenāśrama-sthāṁ
ditiṁ paryacarat kaviḥ

SYNONYMS

mātṛ-svasuḥ — of his mother’s sister; abhiprāyam — the intention; indraḥ — Indra; ājñāya — understanding; māna-da — O King Parīkṣit, who give respect to everyone; śuśrūṣaṇena — with service; āśrama-sthām — residing in an āśrama; ditim — Diti; paryacarat — attended upon; kaviḥ — seeing his own interest.

TRANSLATION

O King, who are respectful to everyone, Indra understood Diti’s purpose, and thus he contrived to fulfill his own interests. Following the logic that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he wanted to break Diti’s promise. Thus he engaged himself in the service of Diti, his aunt, who was residing in an āśrama.

VERSE 6.18.57

nityaṁ vanāt sumanasaḥ
phala-mūla-samit-kuśān
patrāṅkura-mṛdo ’paś ca
kāle kāla upāharat

SYNONYMS

nityam — daily; vanāt — from the forest; sumanasaḥ — flowers; phala — fruits; mūla — roots; samit — wood for the sacrificial fire; kuśān — and kuśa grass; patra — leaves; aṅkura — sprouts; mṛdaḥ — and earth; apaḥ — water; ca — also; kāle kāle — at the proper time; upāharat — brought.

TRANSLATION

Indra served his aunt daily by bringing flowers, fruits, roots and wood for yajñas from the forest. He also brought kuśa grass, leaves, sprouts, earth and water exactly at the proper time.

VERSE 6.18.58

evaṁ tasyā vrata-sthāyā
vrata-cchidraṁ harir nṛpa
prepsuḥ paryacaraj jihmo
mṛga-heva mṛgākṛtiḥ

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; tasyāḥ — of her; vrata-sthāyāḥ — who was faithfully discharging her vow; vrata-chidram — a fault in the execution of the vow; hariḥ — Indra; nṛpa — O King; prepsuḥ — desiring to find; paryacarat — served; jihmaḥ — deceitful; mṛga- — a hunter; iva — like; mṛga-ākṛtiḥ — in the form of a deer.

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, as the hunter of a deer becomes like a deer by covering his body with deerskin and serving the deer, so Indra, although at heart the enemy of the sons of Diti, became outwardly friendly and served Diti in a faithful way. Indra’s purpose was to cheat Diti as soon as he could find some fault in the way she discharged the vows of the ritualistic ceremony. However, he wanted to be undetected, and therefore he served her very carefully.

VERSE 6.18.59

nādhyagacchad vrata-cchidraṁ
tat-paro ’tha mahī-pate
cintāṁ tīvrāṁ gataḥ śakraḥ
kena me syāc chivaṁ tv iha

SYNONYMS

na — not; adhyagacchat — could find; vrata-chidram — a fault in the execution of the vow; tat-paraḥ — intent upon that; atha — thereupon; mahī-pate — O master of the world; cintām — anxiety; tīvrām — intense; gataḥ — obtained; śakraḥ — Indra; kena — how; me — my; syāt — can there be; śivam — well-being; tu — then; iha — here.

TRANSLATION

O master of the entire world, when Indra could find no faults, he thought, “How will there be good fortune for me?” Thus he was full of deep anxiety.

VERSE 6.18.60

ekadā sā tu sandhyāyām
ucchiṣṭā vrata-karśitā
aspṛṣṭa-vāry-adhautāṅghriḥ
suṣvāpa vidhi-mohitā

SYNONYMS

ekadā — once; — she; tu — but; sandhyāyām — during the evening twilight; ucchiṣṭā — just after eating; vrata — from the vow; karśitā — weak and thin; aspṛṣṭa — not touched; vāri — water; adhauta — not washed; aṅghriḥ — her feet; suṣvāpa — went to sleep; vidhi — by fate; mohitā — bewildered.

TRANSLATION

Having grown weak and thin because of strictly following the principles of the vow, Diti once unfortunately neglected to wash her mouth, hands and feet after eating and went to sleep during the evening twilight.

VERSE 6.18.61

labdhvā tad-antaraṁ śakro
nidrāpahṛta-cetasaḥ
diteḥ praviṣṭa udaraṁ
yogeśo yoga-māyayā

SYNONYMS

labdhvā — finding; tat-antaram — after that; śakraḥ — Indra; nidrā — by sleep; apahṛta-cetasaḥ — unconscious; diteḥ — of Diti; praviṣṭaḥ — entered; udaram — the womb; yoga-īśaḥ — the master of yoga; yoga — of yogic perfections; māyayā — by the power.

TRANSLATION

Finding this fault, Indra, who has all the mystic powers [the yoga-siddhis such as aṇimā and laghimā], entered Diti’s womb while she was unconscious, being fast asleep.

VERSE 6.18.62

cakarta saptadhā garbhaṁ
vajreṇa kanaka-prabham
rudantaṁ saptadhaikaikaṁ
mā rodīr iti tān punaḥ

SYNONYMS

cakarta — he cut; sapta-dhā — into seven pieces; garbham — the embryo; vajreṇa — by his thunderbolt; kanaka — of gold; prabham — which had the appearance; rudantam — crying; sapta-dhā — into seven pieces; eka-ekam — each one; rodīḥ — do not cry; iti — thus; tān — them; punaḥ — again.

TRANSLATION

After entering Diti’s womb, Indra, with the help of his thunderbolt, cut into seven pieces her embryo, which appeared like glowing gold. In seven places, seven different living beings began crying. Indra told them, “Do not cry,” and then he cut each of them into seven pieces again.

VERSE 6.18.63

tam ūcuḥ pāṭyamānās te
sarve prāñjalayo nṛpa
kiṁ na indra jighāṁsasi
bhrātaro marutas tava

SYNONYMS

tam — to him; ūcuḥ — said; pāṭyamānāḥ — being aggrieved; te — they; sarve — all; prāñjalayaḥ — with folded hands; nṛpa — O King; kim — why; naḥ — us; indra — O Indra; jighāṁsasi — do you want to kill; bhrātaraḥ — brothers; marutaḥ — Maruts; tava — your.

TRANSLATION

O King, being very much aggrieved, they pleaded to Indra with folded hands, saying, “Dear Indra, we are the Maruts, your brothers. Why are you trying to kill us?”

VERSE 6.18.64

mā bhaiṣṭa bhrātaro mahyaṁ
yūyam ity āha kauśikaḥ
ananya-bhāvān pārṣadān
ātmano marutāṁ gaṇān

SYNONYMS

bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; bhrātaraḥ — brothers; mahyam — my; yūyam — you; iti — thus; āha — said; kauśikaḥ — Indra; ananya-bhāvān — devoted; pārṣadān — followers; ātmanaḥ — his; marutām gaṇān — the Maruts.

TRANSLATION

When Indra saw that actually they were his devoted followers, he said to them: If you are all my brothers, you have nothing more to fear from me.

VERSE 6.18.65

na mamāra diter garbhaḥ
śrīnivāsānukampayā
bahudhā kuliśa-kṣuṇṇo
drauṇy-astreṇa yathā bhavān

SYNONYMS

na — not; mamāra — died; diteḥ — of Diti; garbhaḥ — the embryo; śrīnivāsa — of Lord Viṣṇu, the resting place of the goddess of fortune; anukampayā — by the mercy; bahu-dhā — into many pieces; kuliśa — by the thunderbolt; kṣuṇṇaḥ — cut; drauṇi — of Aśvatthāmā; astreṇa — by the weapon; yathā — just as; bhavān — you.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King Parīkṣit, you were burned by the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā, but when Lord Kṛṣṇa entered the womb of your mother, you were saved. Similarly, although the one embryo was cut into forty-nine pieces by the thunderbolt of Indra, they were all saved by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

VERSE 6.18.66-67

sakṛd iṣṭvādi-puruṣaṁ
puruṣo yāti sāmyatām
saṁvatsaraṁ kiñcid ūnaṁ
dityā yad dharir arcitaḥ

sajūr indreṇa pañcāśad
devās te maruto ’bhavan
vyapohya mātṛ-doṣaṁ te
hariṇā soma-pāḥ kṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

sakṛt — once; iṣṭvā — worshiping; ādi-puruṣam — the original person; puruṣaḥ — a person; yāti — goes to; sāmyatām — possessing the same bodily feature as the Lord; saṁvatsaram — a year; kiñcit ūnam — a little less than; dityā — by Diti; yat — because; hariḥ — Lord Hari; arcitaḥ — was worshiped; sajūḥ — with; indreṇa — Indra; pañcāśat — fifty; devāḥ — demigods; te — they; marutaḥ — the Maruts; abhavan — became; vyapohya — removing; mātṛ-doṣam — the fault of their mother; te — they; hariṇā — by Lord Hari; soma-pāḥ — drinkers of soma-rasa; kṛtāḥ — were made.

TRANSLATION

If one worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person, even once, he receives the benefit of being promoted to the spiritual world and possessing the same bodily features as Viṣṇu. Diti worshiped Lord Viṣṇu for almost one year, adhering to a great vow. Because of such strength in spiritual life, the forty-nine Maruts were born. How, then, is it wonderful that the Maruts, although born from the womb of Diti, became equal to the demigods by the mercy of the Supreme Lord?

VERSE 6.18.68

ditir utthāya dadṛśe
kumārān anala-prabhān
indreṇa sahitān devī
paryatuṣyad aninditā

SYNONYMS

ditiḥ — Diti; utthāya — getting up; dadṛśe — saw; kumārān — children; anala-prabhān — as brilliant as fire; indreṇa sahitān — with Indra; devī — the goddess; paryatuṣyat — was pleased; aninditā — being purified.

TRANSLATION

Because of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Diti was completely purified. When she got up from bed, she saw her forty-nine sons along with Indra. These forty-nine sons were all as brilliant as fire and were in friendship with Indra, and therefore she was very pleased.

VERSE 6.18.69

athendram āha tātāham
ādityānāṁ bhayāvaham
apatyam icchanty acaraṁ
vratam etat suduṣkaram

SYNONYMS

atha — thereafter; indram — to Indra; āha — spoke; tāta — dear one; aham — I; ādityānām — to the Ādityas; bhaya-āvaham — fearful; apatyam — a son; icchantī — desiring; acaram — executed; vratam — vow; etat — this; su-duṣkaram — very difficult to perform.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Diti said to Indra: My dear son, I adhered to this difficult vow just to get a son to kill you twelve Ādityas.

VERSE 6.18.70

ekaḥ saṅkalpitaḥ putraḥ
sapta saptābhavan katham
yadi te viditaṁ putra
satyaṁ kathaya mā mṛṣā

SYNONYMS

ekaḥ — one; saṅkalpitaḥ — was prayed for; putraḥ — son; sapta sapta — forty-nine; abhavan — came to be; katham — how; yadi — if; te — by you; viditam — known; putra — my dear son; satyam — the truth; kathaya — speak; — do not (speak); mṛṣā — lies.

TRANSLATION

I prayed for only one son, but now I see that there are forty-nine. How has this happened? My dear son Indra, if you know, please tell me the truth. Do not try to speak lies.

VERSE 6.18.71

indra uvāca

amba te ’haṁ vyavasitam
upadhāryāgato ’ntikam
labdhāntaro ’cchidaṁ garbham
artha-buddhir na dharma-dṛk

SYNONYMS

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.

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 6.18.72

kṛtto me saptadhā garbha
āsan sapta kumārakāḥ
te ’pi caikaikaśo vṛkṇāḥ
saptadhā nāpi mamrire

SYNONYMS

kṛttaḥ — cut; me — by me; sapta-dhā — into seven; garbhaḥ — the embryo; āsan — there came to be; sapta — seven; kumārakāḥ — babies; te — they; api — although; ca — also; eka-ekaśaḥ — each one; vṛkṇāḥ — cut; sapta-dhā — into seven; na — not; api — still; mamrire — died.

TRANSLATION

First I cut the child in the womb into seven pieces, which became seven children. Then I cut each of the children into seven pieces again. By the grace of the Supreme Lord, however, none of them died.

VERSE 6.18.73

tatas tat paramāścaryaṁ
vīkṣya vyavasitaṁ mayā
mahāpuruṣa-pūjāyāḥ
siddhiḥ kāpy ānuṣaṅgiṇī

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — then; tat — that; parama-āścaryam — great wonder; vīkṣya — seeing; vyavasitam — it was decided; mayā — by me; mahā-puruṣa — of Lord Viṣṇu; pūjāyāḥ — of worship; siddhiḥ — result; kāpi — some; ānuṣaṅgiṇī — secondary.

TRANSLATION

My dear mother, when I saw that all forty-nine sons were alive, I was certainly struck with wonder. I decided that this was a secondary result of your having regularly executed devotional service in worship of Lord Viṣṇu.

VERSE 6.18.74

ārādhanaṁ bhagavata
īhamānā nirāśiṣaḥ
ye tu necchanty api paraṁ
te svārtha-kuśalāḥ smṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

ārādhanam — the worship; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; īhamānāḥ — being interested in; nirāśiṣaḥ — without material desires; ye — those who; tu — indeed; na icchanti — do not desire; api — even; param — liberation; te — they; sva-artha — in their own interest; kuśalāḥ — expert; smṛtāḥ — are considered.

TRANSLATION

Although those who are interested only in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not desire anything material from the Lord and do not even want liberation, Lord Kṛṣṇa fulfills all their desires.

VERSE 6.18.75

ārādhyātma-pradaṁ devaṁ
svātmānaṁ jagad-īśvaram
ko vṛṇīta guṇa-sparśaṁ
budhaḥ syān narake ’pi yat

SYNONYMS

ārādhya — after worshiping; ātma-pradam — who gives Himself; devam — the Lord; sva-ātmānam — the most dear; jagat-īśvaram — the Lord of the universe; kaḥ — what; vṛṇīta — would choose; guṇa-sparśam — material happiness; budhaḥ — intelligent person; syāt — is; narake — in hell; api — even; yat — which.

TRANSLATION

The ultimate goal of all ambitions is to become a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an intelligent man serves the most dear Lord, who gives Himself to His devotees, how can he desire material happiness, which is available even in hell?

VERSE 6.18.76

tad idaṁ mama daurjanyaṁ
bāliśasya mahīyasi
kṣantum arhasi mātas tvaṁ
diṣṭyā garbho mṛtotthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat — that; idam — this; mama — of me; daurjanyam — evil deed; bāliśasya — a fool; mahīyasi — O best of women; kṣantum arhasi — please excuse; mātaḥ — O mother; tvam — you; diṣṭyā — by fortune; garbhaḥ — the child within the womb; mṛta — killed; utthitaḥ — became alive.

TRANSLATION

O my mother, O best of all women, I am a fool. Kindly excuse me for whatever offenses I have committed. Your forty-nine sons have been born unhurt because of your devotional service. As an enemy, I cut them to pieces, but because of your great devotional service they did not die.

VERSE 6.18.77

śrī-śuka uvāca

indras tayābhyanujñātaḥ
śuddha-bhāvena tuṣṭayā
marudbhiḥ saha tāṁ natvā
jagāma tri-divaṁ prabhuḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; indraḥ — Indra; tayā — by her; abhyanujñātaḥ — being permitted; śuddha-bhāvena — by the good behavior; tuṣṭayā — satisfied; marudbhiḥ saha — with the Maruts; tām — to her; natvā — having offered obeisances; jagāma — he went; tri-divam — to the heavenly planets; prabhuḥ — the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Diti was extremely satisfied by Indra’s good behavior. Then Indra offered his respects to his aunt with profuse obeisances, and with her permission he went away to the heavenly planets with his brothers the Maruts.

VERSE 6.18.78

evaṁ te sarvam ākhyātaṁ
yan māṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi
maṅgalaṁ marutāṁ janma
kiṁ bhūyaḥ kathayāmi te

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; te — to you; sarvam — all; ākhyātam — narrated; yat — which; mām — me; tvam — you; paripṛcchasi — asked; maṅgalam — auspicious; marutām — of the Maruts; janma — the birth; kim — what; bhūyaḥ — further; kathayāmi — shall I speak; te — to you.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Parīkṣit, I have replied as far as possible to the questions you have asked me, especially in regard to this pure, auspicious narration about the Maruts. Now you may inquire further, and I shall explain more.