Bala Kanda, Sarga 46

Meaning

Sore afflicted on her aforesaid sons having been killed in the course of their conflict with the sons of Aditi, Diti addressed her husband, named Kaśyapa, son of Marīci, as follows : (1)

Meaning

“I have been deprived of my sons, O venerable sage, by your very mighty sons, the gods. Now I long for a son, secured, of course, through prolonged askesis, that may be able to kill Indra, the destroyer of my sons. (2)

Meaning

“As such I shall practise austerities. Be pleased, therefore, to favour me with a powerful son capable of killing Indra. You ought to grant me leave.” (3)

Meaning

Hearing her aforesaid submission, the exceptionally glorious Kaśyapa, son of Marīci, replied as follows to Diti, sore afflicted as she was : (4)

Meaning

“Let it be so. May all be well with you! Observe purity till the birth of a son, O lady rich in askesis ! In the ripeness of time you will give birth to a son who should be able to kill Indra in an encounter. (5)

Meaning

“At the end of full one thousand years, provided of course you maintain purity, you will bring forth through me a son capable of killing Indra (the ruler of the three worlds).” (6)

Meaning

Saying so, the highly glorious sage stroked her with his hand and then, touching her person and pronouncing his benediction on her, set out to resume his austerities. (7)

Meaning

Duly reaching Kuśaplava when Kaśyapa had departed, O jewel among men, Diti, full of great joy, began to practise most severe austerities. (8)

Meaning

While she practised austerities, Indra, the thousand-eyed god, O jewel among men, rendered personal service to her through his exuberant wealth of virtues : so the tradition goes. (9)

Meaning

Indra brought for her use fire, blades of Kuśa grass, firewood, water, fruits as well as roots and whatever else was desired by her. (10)

Meaning

Indra, it is said, served Diti at all times by massaging her wearied limbs and thus relieving her fatigue. (11)

Meaning

Full one thousand years but ten having elapsed, O Rāma, the celebrated Diti, who felt immensely delighted, forthwith spoke to Indra as follows : (12)

Meaning

“Only ten years have yet to be spent by me in practising austerities, O jewel among the powerful ! May prosperity attend on you ! You will after that behold a half-brother by your side. (13)

Meaning

“I shall place on friendly terms with you my future son—whom I sought for your destruction’s sake, my son, and who is consequently expected to be ever eager to conquer you—so that free from all anxiety you will enjoy with him, my son, the conquest of all the three worlds that will be vanquished by him. (14)

Meaning

“A boon to the effect that I should have a son at the end of a thousand years was granted in my favour, O jewel among gods, by your high-souled father, Sage Kaśyapa, when implored by me.” (15)

Meaning

Saying so, as the sun had just reached the meridian, the glorious Diti was overtaken by sleep and forthwith lay down placing her feet where her head ought to have lain. (16)

Meaning

Indra laughed and rejoiced to see her in an impure posture having unconsciously allowed her hair to touch her feet, and to behold her feet placed where her head ought to have lain. (17)

Meaning

Indra entered the orifice of her genitals by dint of his yogic power, O Rāma, and carved the foetus into seven, fully alert as he was. (18)

Meaning

The foetus thereupon cried in a shrill voice while being cut with his thunderbolt, a weapon with a hundred edges, O Rāma, and Diti then woke up. (19)

Meaning

Indra went on saying to the foetus, “Pray, do not cry, do not cry !” Nay, the exceptionally glorious Vāsava (a name of Indra) continued to carve the foetus again and again till each part was subdivided into seven, even though it remained crying.(20)

Meaning

Diti only said, “The foetus should not be killed, it should not be killed.” Out of deference to the remonstrance of his stepmother, Indra thereupon emerged from her womb. (21)

Meaning

Appearing with his thunderbolt, Indra spoke to Diti with folded-hands as follows : “You lay asleep, O venerable lady, in an impure posture with your hair touching the feet. (22)

Meaning

“Seizing that vulnerable point I carved into seven the foetus that was designed to kill Indra (myself) in an encounter. You ought to pardon this offence of mine, O worshipful lady !” (23)