Bhagavatapurana 6.18: athāṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

6.18.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
pṛśnistu patnī savituḥ sāvitrīṃ vyāhṛtiṃ trayīm /
agnihotraṃ paśuṃ somaṃ cāturmāsyaṃ mahāmakhān //

Śrī Śuka said: / Savitṛ's wife Pṛśni [bore] Sāvitrī, the Vyāhṛtis, the three Vedas, / the Agnihotra, the animal sacrifice, Soma, the Cāturmāsya, and the great sacrifices.

1. Sri Suka said:— Prisni the wife of Savita (Savitri) bore Savitri, Vyahriti, Trayi, Agnihotra, Pasu, Soma, Chaturmasya and Mahamakhas.

6.18.2

siddhirbhagasya bhāryāṅga mahimānaṃ vibhuṃ prabhum /
āśiṣaṃ ca varārohāṃ kanyāṃ prāsūta suvratām //

Bhaga's wife Siddhi, O dear one, gave birth to Mahiman, Vibhu, and Prabhu, / and to a daughter of lovely hips, Āśis, who kept excellent vows.

2. And Siddhi, Bhaga’s wife, brought forth Mahiman, Vibhu, and Prabhu and, O king, also a most beautiful and pious daughter called Asis. 3. The wives of Dhatri were four, namely, Kuhu, Sinivali, Raka, and Anumati; and they respectively brought forth Sayam, Darsa, Prathar and Purnamasa.

6.18.3

dhātuḥ kuhūḥ sinīvālī rākā cānumatistathā /
sāyaṃ darśamatha prātaḥ pūrṇamāsamanukramāt //

Dhātṛ's [wives were] Kuhū, Sinīvālī, Rākā, and Anumati; / and they gave birth in order to Sāyaṃ, Darśa, Prātar, and Pūrṇamāsa.

6.18.4

agnīn purīṣyān ādhatta kriyāyāṃ samanantaraḥ /
carṣaṇī varuṇasyāsīdyasyāṃ jāto bhṛguḥ punaḥ //

Next in order, Vidhātṛ deposited the Puriṣya fires in Kriyā. / Carṣaṇī was the wife of Varuṇa, in whom Bhṛgu was born again.

4. Samanantara begot on Kriya the sons called Pureeshya who are Agnis. Charshani was the wife of Varuna and of her Bhighu was born again.

6.18.5

vālmīkiśca mahāyogī valmīkādabhavat kila /
agastyaśca vasiṣṭhaśca mitrāvaruṇayorṛṣī //

The great yogin Vālmīki was born from an anthill, so it is said, / and Agastya and Vasiṣṭha were sages born of Mitra and Varuṇa.

5. And also Valmiki the great Yogin who had been indeed born before out of an ant-hill; and the Rishis Agastya and Vasishta were born of Mitra and Varuna (Agastya and Vasishta are both said to be sons of both Mitra and Varuna),

6.18.6

retaḥ siṣicatuḥ kumbhe urvaśyāḥ sannidhau drutam /
revatyāṃ mitra utsargamariṣṭaṃ pippalaṃ vyadhāt //

They shed their seed into a jar at once in the presence of Urvaśī. / In Revatī, Mitra begot Utsarga, Ariṣṭa, and Pippala.

6. Who dropped into the same pot; their seed that had escaped in the presence of Urvasi Mitra had by his wife Revati three sons named Utsarga, Arishta and Pippala.

6.18.7

paulomyāmindra ādhatta trīn putrān iti naḥ śrutam /
jayantamṛṣabhaṃ tāta tṛtīyaṃ mīḍhuṣaṃ prabhuḥ //

The lord Indra begot three sons in Paulomī, so we have heard, / O dear one: Jayanta, Ṛṣabha, and the third, Mīḍhuṣa.

7. O son, we are told that Indra had three sons by Poulomi (his queen) and they were called Jayanta, Vrishabha and Meedhvan the third.

6.18.8

urukramasya devasya māyāvāmanarūpiṇaḥ /
kīrtau patnyāṃ bṛhacchlokastasyāsan saubhagādayaḥ //

Of the god of wide strides [Vāmana], who assumed the form of a dwarf by creative power, / Bṛhacchloka was born in his wife Kīrti; and his sons were Saubhaga and others.

8. Vishnu of mighty actions who appeared as Vamana through His own Maya (power or will) had by his wife Kirthi a son called Brihatsloka who was the father of Sowbhaga and other sons.

6.18.9

tatkarmaguṇavīryāṇi kāśyapasya mahātmanaḥ /
paścādvakṣyāmahe 'dityāṃ yathaivāvatatāra ha //

We shall recount later the deeds, qualities, and heroic feats of that great son of Kaśyapa, / and how he descended as an incarnation in Aditi.

9. We shall narrate (in detail), later on, the work, excellent qualities, powers and feats of Vamana, that great son of Kasyapa and also how He came to make an Avatar to be called a son of (in relation to) Aditi.

6.18.10

atha kaśyapadāyādān daiteyān kīrtayāmi te /
yatra bhāgavataḥ śrīmān prahrādo balireva ca //

Now I shall glorify for you the descendants of Kaśyapa born of Diti, / among whom were the glorious Bhāgavata Prahrāda and Bali.

10. Next I shall tell thee of Kasyapa's sons by Diti among whom were born the great devotees of Hari, the glorious Prahlada and Bali.

6.18.11

diterdvāveva dāyādau daityadānavavanditau /
hiraṇyakaśipurnāma hiraṇyākṣaśca kīrtitau //

Diti had only two sons, revered by the Daityas and Dānavas: / celebrated as Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa.

11. Diti had at first only two sons who were highly esteemed by Daityas and Danavas and they were called Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha.

6.18.12

hiraṇyakaśiporbhāryā kayādhurnāma dānavī /
jambhasya tanayā sā tu suṣuve caturaḥ sutān //

Hiraṇyakaśipu's wife was a Dānava woman named Kayādhu, / the daughter of Jambha; she bore four sons:

12. 13. & 14. Hiranyakasup's wife was a Danava woman called Kayadhu, daughter of Jambha, given in marriage to him; she had four sons, namely, Samhrada, Anuhrada, Hrada and Prahrada, and their sister Simhika bore a son Rahu to Viprachit; and that Rahu's head, while drinking nectar, Hari cut off with his Chakra. Samhlada's wife Kriti bore Panchajana to him.

6.18.13

saṃhrādaṃ prāg anuhrādaṃ hrādaṃ prahrādameva ca /
tatsvasā siṃhikā nāma rāhuṃ vipracito 'grahīt //

Saṃhrāda first, then Anuhrāda, Hrāda, and Prahrāda. / Their sister was named Siṃhikā; she took Rāhu from Vipracitti.

6.18.14

śiro 'haradyasya hariścakreṇa pibato 'mṛtam /
saṃhrādasya kṛtirbhāryā sūta pañcajanaṃ tataḥ //

Hari cut off Rāhu's head with his disc as he was drinking the nectar. / Saṃhrāda's wife was Kṛti, who then bore Pañcajana.

6.18.15

hrādasya dhamanirbhāryā sūta vātāpimilvalam /
yo 'gastyāya tvatithaye pece vātāpimilvalaḥ //

Hrāda's wife was Dhamani, who bore Vātāpi and Ilvala; / it was Ilvala who cooked Vātāpi for Agastya the guest.

15. Dhamani wife of Hrada gave birth to Vatapi and Ilwala; of whom the latter cooked Vatapi for Agastya his guest. 16. Anuhrada had by his wife Surmya two sons named Bhaskala and Mahisha; Virochana is the son of Prahlada and he had by his queen a son called Bali.

6.18.16

anuhrādasya sūryāyāṃ bāṣkalo mahiṣastathā /
virocanastu prāhrādirdevyāṃ tasyābhavadbaliḥ //

To Anuhrāda through Sūryā were born Bāṣkala and Mahiṣa. / The son of Prahrāda was Virocana; through his queen, Bali was born to him.

6.18.17

bāṇajyeṣṭhaṃ putraśatamaśanāyāṃ tato 'bhavat /
tasyānubhāvaṃ suślokyaṃ paścādevābhidhāsyate //

A hundred sons, the eldest being Bāṇa, were born from Bali through Aśanā. / His glorious greatness, worthy of fair praise, will be related later.

17. A hundred sons of whom Bana was the eldest were born of Bali and his queen Asana; the glory of that Bali, worth celebrating, will be related only later on.

6.18.18

bāṇa ārādhya giriśaṃ lebhe tadgaṇamukhyatām /
yatpārśve bhagavān āste hy adyāpi purapālakaḥ //

Having worshipped the Lord of the Mountain, Bāṇa attained the status of chief among his attendants; / by his side the Lord [Śiva] stands even today as guardian of his city.

18. Bana propitiated Siva and attained the first place among his attendants (known as Parmathaganas) and by his side the worshipful Siva even now remains guarding his city.

6.18.19

marutaśca diteḥ putrāścatvāriṃśan navādhikāḥ /
ta āsannaprajāḥ sarve nītā indreṇa sātmatām //

The Maruts, Diti's sons, were forty-nine. / They were all childless, brought by Indra to his own nature.

19. Maruts, forty-nine in number, are the sons of Diti; they all remained childless and by Indra they were converted into gods (into his own).

6.18.20

/0 śrīrājovāca
kathaṃ ta āsuraṃ bhāvamapohyautpattikaṃ guro /
indreṇa prāpitāḥ sātmyaṃ kiṃ tat sādhu kṛtaṃ hi taiḥ //

The king said:
How did they cast off their natural demonic disposition, O spiritual master, / and were brought by Indra to his own nature? What virtuous deed did they do?

20. The king said:— How were they, O teacher, made by Indra to change the Asura nature of their origin and gain the divine nature? Was it a proper conduct on their part?

6.18.21

ime śraddadhate brahmannṛṣayo hi mayā saha /
parijñānāya bhagavaṃstan no vyākhyātumarhasi //

These sages along with me are full of faith, O holy one. / Therefore, O venerable lord, you ought to explain this to us so that we may understand it.

21. O Brahman, these Rishis along with me are very earnest about knowing it; O worshipful One, be pleased to explain it to us.

6.18.22

/0 śrīsūta uvāca
tadviṣṇurātasya sa bādarāyaṇir vaco niśamyādṛtamalpamarthavat /
sabhājayan san nibhṛtena cetasā jagāda satrāyaṇa sarvadarśanaḥ //

Śrī Sūta said:
Having heard those respected, concise, and meaningful words of Viṣṇurāta, / the son of Bādarāyaṇa, who sees all, honoured him with a tranquil mind and spoke, O member of the sacrificial session.

22. Suta said:— On hearing that query of Parikshit, full of earnestness and meaning yet couched in brief words, Suka perfect in knowledge commended him and with a serene heart and mind (collected mind) said (as follows).

6.18.23

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
hataputrā ditiḥ śakra pārṣṇigrāheṇa viṣṇunā /
manyunā śokadīptena jvalantī paryacintayat //

Śrī Śuka said:
Her sons having been slain by Indra through Viṣṇu, who attacked her flank, / Diti, burning with wrath ignited by grief, pondered:

23. Sri Suka said:— Diti who had her sons killed by Vishnu, helper (ally) of Indra from behind, burned with wrath kindled by grief and pondered over it (revolved thoughts in her own mind).

6.18.24

kadā nu bhrātṛhantāramindriyārāmamulbaṇam /
aklinnahṛdayaṃ pāpaṃ ghātayitvā śaye sukham //

“When indeed, having caused the death of this slayer of his brothers, this cruel villain, / devoted to the pleasure of his senses, with an unfeeling heart, shall I sleep in peace?

24. When could I see this Indra, murderer of his brothers, charming to the eyes yet very cruel, hard-hearted and sinful. destroyed and rest in peace?

6.18.25

kṛmiviḍbhasmasaṃjñāsīdyasyeśābhihitasya ca /
bhūtadhruk tatkṛte svārthaṃ kiṃ veda nirayo yataḥ //

The designation of this body, called 'ruler', is worms, feces, and ashes; / what does one who harms living beings for its sake know of his own true interest, since hell is the result?

25. Does he understand what his own high purpose is, he who does violence to beings for the sake of that body which, though spoken of as Isa (the Ruler, king, etc) goes also under the names of worms, refuse and ashes (i.e., for the sake of the perishable and worthless body)? For, cruelty to other beings leads to hell.

6.18.26

āśāsānasya tasyedaṃ dhruvamunnaddhacetasaḥ /
madaśoṣaka indrasya bhūyādyena suto hi me //

Of that Indra with an arrogant mind, who longs for this [transient body] as eternal— / may there be a son of mine who will wither his pride!”

26. By what means could I have a son who would quell the pride of Indra who regards this body as permanent and whose heart is unrestrained (by principles)?

6.18.27

iti bhāvena sā bharturācacārāsakṛt priyam /
śuśrūṣayānurāgeṇa praśrayeṇa damena ca //

With this intention, she repeatedly performed what was pleasing to her husband, / with service, affection, humility, and self-restraint.

27. & 28. With this thought she constantly did what pleased her husband; by her service, affection, modesty, self-control, intense devotion, O king, by charming and sweet conversations, by winning smiles and side glances, and she who knew his heart took captive of his mind.

6.18.28

bhaktyā paramayā rājan manojñairvalgubhāṣitaiḥ /
mano jagrāha bhāvajñā sasmitāpāṅgavīkṣaṇaiḥ //

With supreme devotion, O King, with charming, sweet speech, / and with smiling side-glances, she, knowing his moods, captivated his mind.

6.18.29

evaṃ striyā jaḍībhūto vidvān api manojñayā /
bāḍhamity āha vivaśo na tac citraṃ hi yoṣiti //

Thus stupefied by a charming woman, even that learned man, / helplessly said: “So be it”; for this is no wonder where a woman is concerned.

29. Thus overpowered by the skilful woman, learned as he was, he powerless said, "Yes" (agreed to grant her desire); indeed this is no wonder in a woman.

6.18.30

vilokyaikāntabhūtāni bhūtāny ādau prajāpatiḥ /
striyaṃ cakre svadehārdhaṃ yayā puṃsāṃ matirhṛtā //

Seeing created beings alone at the beginning of creation, the lord of creatures / made woman out of half his own body, by whom the minds of men are stolen away.

30. Seeing in the beginning that his creatures were given to renunciation, Prajapati made half of his body a woman by whom the judgment of men is robbed.

6.18.31

evaṃ śuśrūṣitastāta bhagavān kaśyapaḥ striyā /
prahasya paramaprīto ditimāhābhinandya ca //

Thus served by his wife, O dear one, the venerable Kaśyapa, / laughing and greatly delighted, praised Diti and spoke.

31. O son, thus waited upon and attended to by Diti, the worshipful Kasyapa laughed and, in great delight, commending her, said to her.

6.18.32

/0 śrīkaśyapa uvāca
varaṃ varaya vāmoru prītaste 'hamanindite /
striyā bhartari suprīte kaḥ kāma iha cāgamaḥ //

Śrī Kaśyapa said:
Choose a boon, O fair-thighed one; I am pleased with you, O blameless lady. / When her husband is well pleased, what desire of a woman here or hereafter remains unfulfilled?

32. Kasyapa said:—O my Beauty, ask for a boon. I am pleased with thee, O Faultless One. When the husband is pleased, what desire is unattainable by a woman (beyond her reach) here and beyond?

6.18.33

patireva hi nārīṇāṃ daivataṃ paramaṃ smṛtam /
mānasaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ vāsudevaḥ śriyaḥ patiḥ //

The husband alone is considered the supreme deity for women; / he is Vāsudeva, the husband of Śrī, dwelling in the hearts of all living beings.

33. It is the husband who is said to be the Supreme Deity to the woman; for, Vasudeva Lord of Sri is in the heart of all beings.

6.18.34

sa eva devatāliṅgairnāmarūpavikalpitaiḥ /
ijyate bhagavān pumbhiḥ strībhiśca patirūpadhṛk //

It is that same Lord who is worshipped by men through the forms of deities / differentiated by names and forms, and by women in the form of a husband.

34. It is the glorious Lord Vasudeva who is worshipped as their Lord under the characteristics, under the names and forms of many gods, by men and by women too in the form of their husbands.

6.18.35

tasmāt pativratā nāryaḥ śreyaskāmāḥ sumadhyame /
yajante 'nanyabhāvena patimātmānamīśvaram //

Therefore, chaste women desiring their own welfare, O slender-waisted lady, / worship with undivided devotion the husband as the Self, the Lord.

35. Therefore women, true to their husbands and intent on high purpose, O beautiful one, worship with an undoubting mind, their husbands as the Atman the Supreme Ruler.

6.18.36

so 'haṃ tvayārcito bhadre īdṛgbhāvena bhaktitaḥ /
taṃ te sampādaye kāmamasatīnāṃ sudurlabham //

Such as I am, I have been worshipped by you, O gentle lady, with devotion and such an attitude; / I shall fulfill that desire of yours, which is very difficult for unchaste women to attain.

36. Such a one, O happy lady, I have been worshipped with devotion and with such faith by thee; therefore I shall grant thee thy wish which is not to be attained by those wives who are not faithful.

6.18.37

/0 ditiruvāca
varado yadi me brahman putramindrahaṇaṃ vṛṇe /
amṛtyuṃ mṛtaputrāhaṃ yena me ghātitau sutau //

Diti said:
If you grant me a boon, O holy one, I choose an immortal son, a slayer of Indra, / since my sons have been slain, and by him two of my sons were destroyed.

37. Diti said:— O Brahman, if thou wouldst confer a boon on me, I pray for a son who could slay Indra and be himself immortal, since I have lost my two sons, whom he caused to be slain.

6.18.38

niśamya tadvaco vipro vimanāḥ paryatapyata /
aho adharmaḥ sumahān adya me samupasthitaḥ //

Hearing her words, the brāhmaṇa was disheartened and filled with distress: / “Alas, a very great unrighteousness has presented itself to me today!

38. Hearing those words the wise brahmin became dispirited and full of regrets. Alas! great is the unrighteousness that has overtaken me!

6.18.39

aho arthendriyārāmo yoṣinmayyeha māyayā /
gṛhītacetāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ patiṣye narake dhruvam //

Alas, devoted to material wealth and the pleasure of the senses, my mind captured here / by woman-made creative power, wretched as I am, I shall surely fall into hell!

39. Alas! to-day I, given to the gratification of the senses, and under the deluding power in the form of a woman, having played with my mind and heart into her hands, I have proved myself to be wanting in sense; I shall certainly fall into hell. 40. How is it a fault or violation on the part of the woman who simply follows her nature? fie upon me, unwise in my own good; for without control over my senses I acted in this respect.

6.18.40

ko 'tikramo 'nuvartantyāḥ svabhāvamiha yoṣitaḥ /
dhiṅ māṃ batābudhaṃ svārthe yadahaṃ tvajitendriyaḥ //

What transgression is there on the part of a woman who merely follows her own nature here? / Fie on me, alas, ignorant of my own true interest, because I have not mastered my senses!

6.18.41

śaratpadmotsavaṃ vaktraṃ vacaśca śravaṇāmṛtam /
hṛdayaṃ kṣuradhārābhaṃ strīṇāṃ ko veda ceṣṭitam //

Women's faces are a festive autumn lotus, their speech nectar to the ears, / but their heart is like the edge of a razor: who knows their conduct?

41. Of women the face is the autumn lotus in blossom, words are ambrosia to the ear, the heart is as sharp as knife; who could understand their acts and ways?

6.18.42

na hi kaścit priyaḥ strīṇāmañjasā svāśiṣātmanām /
patiṃ putraṃ bhrātaraṃ vā ghnanty arthe ghātayanti ca //

Indeed, no one is truly dear to women, who seek only their own desires; / for the sake of their purpose, they kill or cause the death of a husband, a son, or a brother.

42. Indeed none is truly beloved of women who, bent upon achieving their purpose, appear as lovable as one's own self and who for their purpose, kill, or, employ agents to kill, the husband, the son, or brother.

6.18.43

pratiśrutaṃ dadāmīti vacastan na mṛṣā bhavet /
vadhaṃ nārhati cendro 'pi tatredamupakalpate //

I promised, saying, ‘I grant it’; that word cannot be false; / yet Indra does not deserve death. In this matter, therefore, the following is appropriate.”

43. I have promised to give; that word should not prove untrue and Indra too does not deserve destruction; this (well then), this (course) appears good in the matter.

6.18.44

iti sañcintya bhagavān mārīcaḥ kurunandana /
uvāca kiñcit kupita ātmānaṃ ca vigarhayan //

Thinking thus, the venerable descendant of Marīci, O delight of the Kurus, / slightly angered and reproaching himself, spoke.

44. Having thus considered over the matter, the worshipful son of Marichi, O the pride of Kurus, became somewhat angry and, condemning himself, said.

6.18.45

/0 śrīkaśyapa uvāca
putraste bhavitā bhadre indrahādevabāndhavaḥ /
saṃvatsaraṃ vratamidaṃ yady añjo dhārayiṣyasi //

Śrī Kaśyapa said:
You will have a son, O auspicious one, who will be a slayer of Indra, a friend to the gods, / if you strictly observe this vow for one year.

45. Kasyapa said:—O happy one, slayer of Indra, (or), a friend of the gods, a son will be born of thee, if thou observest carefully (properly) for a year this course of vow.

6.18.46

/0 ditiruvāca
dhārayiṣye vrataṃ brahman brūhi kāryāṇi yāni me /
yāni ceha niṣiddhāni na vrataṃ ghnanti yāny uta //

Diti said:
I will observe the vow, O holy one. Tell me the duties I must perform, / and what things are forbidden here, and what things do not violate the vow.

46. Diti said:— I shall observe the vow, O Brahman. Please tell me (all) that should be done and also (all) that are prohibited and all that may not interrupt the vow.

6.18.47

/0 śrīkaśyapa uvāca
na hiṃsyādbhūtajātāni na śapen nānṛtaṃ vadet /
na chindyān nakharomāṇi na spṛśedyadamaṅgalam //

Śrī Kaśyapa said:
One must not harm living beings, nor curse, nor speak an untruth; / one must not cut nails or hair, nor touch anything inauspicious.

47. Kasyapa said:— No creatures should be harmed or cursed and no lie uttered: nails should not be pared, nor hair cut; nothing inauspicious should be touched.

6.18.48

nāpsu snāyān na kupyeta na sambhāṣeta durjanaiḥ /
na vasītādhautavāsaḥ srajaṃ ca vidhṛtāṃ kvacit //

One must not bathe in water, nor become angry, nor converse with wicked people; / one must not wear an unwashed garment, nor wear a garland that has already been worn.

48. She should not bathe in water (by plunging in it), get angry or converse with the wicked or wear unwashed clothes or a wreath once worn (by somebody else).

6.18.49

nocchiṣṭaṃ caṇḍikānnaṃ ca sāmiṣaṃ vṛṣalāhṛtam /
bhuñjītodakyayā dṛṣṭaṃ piben nāñjalinā tvapaḥ //

One must not eat leftovers, nor food offered to Caṇḍikā, nor food with meat, nor food brought by a low-born woman, / nor what has been seen by a menstruating woman, nor drink water from cupped hands.

49. She should not eat the remainder of what is eaten by another or the food offered to Bhadrakali or food mixed with mutton, or what is brought by a Sudra or seen by a woman in the monthly course or drink water with her own palm.

6.18.50

nocchiṣṭāspṛṣṭasalilā sandhyāyāṃ muktamūrdhajā /
anarcitāsaṃyatavāk nāsaṃvītā bahiścaret //

Having not rinsed after eating and not touched water, at twilight, with dishevelled hair, / unadorned, not having restrained her speech, or unclad, she should not go outdoors.

50. Not having washed with water any touch of refuse, or with the locks of hair dishevelled in the evening, not having adorned herself and controlled the tongue, and not having covered herself, she should not go out.

6.18.51

nādhautapādāprayatā nārdrapādā udakśirāḥ /
śayīta nāparāṅ nānyairna nagnā na ca sandhyayoḥ //

With unwashed feet, impure, with wet feet, or with her head to the north, / she should not sleep, nor facing west, nor with others, nor naked, nor at the two twilights.

51. Without having washed the feet, without keeping herself clean or with wet feet, with the head placed towards the north or the west, with others, or, in nakedness, both in the morning (dawn) and evening (dusk), she should not go to sleep.

6.18.52

dhautavāsā śucirnityaṃ sarvamaṅgalasaṃyutā /
pūjayet prātarāśāt prāg goviprāñ śriyamacyutam //

Always wearing washed garments, pure, endowed with all auspicious signs, / before breakfast she should worship cows, brāhmaṇas, Śrī, and Acyuta.

52. Wearing washed clothes, always undefiled and furnished with all auspicious things, she should before breakfast worship cows, Brahmins, Lakshmi and Achyuta.

6.18.53

striyo vīravatīścārcet sraggandhabalimaṇḍanaiḥ /
patiṃ cārcyopatiṣṭheta dhyāyet koṣṭhagataṃ ca tam //

She should worship women whose husbands and sons are living with garlands, fragrances, offerings, and ornaments; / and having worshipped her husband, she should attend upon him and meditate on him who has entered her womb.

53. She should worship women whose husbands are living, with flowers, sandal, offerings (presents) and ornaments and having worshipped the husband also, she should contemplate Him as present in her bowels.

6.18.54

sāṃvatsaraṃ puṃsavanaṃ vratametadaviplutam /
dhārayiṣyasi cet tubhyaṃ śakrahā bhavitā sutaḥ //

If you observe without breach this vow for one year, the puṃsavana, / then a son who is the slayer of Indra will be born to you.

54. If thou wilt observe for a year without any defect this vow called Pumsanana (yielding a son), a son able to slay Indra will be born to thee.

6.18.55

bāḍhamity abhyupetyātha ditī rājan mahāmanāḥ /
kaśyapādgarbhamādhatta vrataṃ cāñjo dadhāra sā //

Agreeing, saying, “So be it,” the resolute Diti, O King, / conceived a child from Kaśyapa and properly maintained the vow.

55. "Well, I will do so," said she; thus, O king, agreeing to the conditions of observance, Diti who cherished a great purpose, had the conception from Kasyapa and was strictly observing the vow.

6.18.56

mātṛṣvasurabhiprāyamindra ājñāya mānada /
śuśrūṣaṇenāśramasthāṃ ditiṃ paryacarat kaviḥ //

Knowing the intention of his mother’s sister, O giver of honor, / the wise Indra attended upon Diti, who resided at the hermitage, through service.

56. O noble king, the intelligent Indra perceived the intentions of his aunt, and attended to her by doing all service to Diti in the hermitage.

6.18.57

nityaṃ vanāt sumanasaḥ phalamūlasamitkuśān /
patrāṅkuramṛdo 'paśca kāle kāla upāharat //

Every day from the forest he brought flowers, fruits, roots, firewood, kuśa grass, / leaves, sprouts, clay, and water at their proper times.

57. Every day, at stated hours, he brought her from the forest flowers, fruits, roots, sacred sticks, kusa grass, leaves, shoots and earth and water.

6.18.58

evaṃ tasyā vratasthāyā vratacchidraṃ harirnṛpa /
prepsuḥ paryacaraj jihmo mṛgaheva mṛgākṛtiḥ //

O king, while she was observing her vow, Indra, deceitful like a hunter disguised as a deer, / waited upon her, seeking a lapse in her vow.

58. Indra, who had his intention concealed, O king, was watchful to find some violation of the conditions on her part during the course of the observance and waited upon her like a hunter who puts on the guise of a deer (or the game).

6.18.59

nādhyagacchadvratacchidraṃ tatparo 'tha mahīpate /
cintāṃ tīvrāṃ gataḥ śakraḥ kena me syāc chivaṃ tviha //

Intent upon this, O lord of the earth, he found no flaw in her vow; / Śakra then fell into deep anxiety, thinking: “How indeed can my well-being come about here?”

59. O king, Indra, who, ever attentive to it, could not find any defect (weak point in the observance) was filled with serious anxiety as to how in that affair he might have his success. 'By what means could I have success?'

6.18.60

ekadā sā tu sandhyāyāmucchiṣṭā vratakarśitā /
aspṛṣṭavāryadhautāṅghriḥ suṣvāpa vidhimohitā //

Once, however, at twilight, having left her mouth unwashed after eating, emaciated by the vow, / without touching water and with unwashed feet, she fell asleep, bewildered by fate.

60. One evening however she got defiled, and fatigued with austerity, did not cleanse herself and her feet with water and, deluded by fate, she slept in that state.

6.18.61

labdhvā tadantaraṃ śakro nidrāpahṛtacetasaḥ /
diteḥ praviṣṭa udaraṃ yogeśo yogamāyayā //

Finding that opportunity, Śakra, the master of yoga, by his mystic power / entered the womb of Diti, whose mind was seized by sleep.

61. & 62. Finding this weak point, Indra a master of Yoga entered by virtue of that power in her bowels when she was unconscious in sleep, and cut the infant brilliant like gold in the womb into seven pieces and as it cried he again cut each piece into seven pieces, saying "do not cry."

6.18.62

cakarta saptadhā garbhaṃ vajreṇa kanakaprabham /
rudantaṃ saptadhaikaikaṃ mā rodīriti tān punaḥ //

With his thunderbolt he cut into seven parts the embryo that shone like gold; / and as it wept, he again cut each single one into seven, saying: “Do not cry!”

6.18.63

tamūcuḥ pāṭyamānāste sarve prāñjalayo nṛpa /
kiṃ na indra jighāṃsasi bhrātaro marutastava //

As they were being cut to pieces, O king, they all said to him with folded hands: / “Why do you wish to kill us, Indra? We are your brothers, the Maruts.”

63. Being so rent, O king, they all joined their hands in reverence and said to him, "O Indra, why wouldst thou kill us thy brothers, Maruts."?

6.18.64

mā bhaiṣṭa bhrātaro mahyaṃ yūyamity āha kauśikaḥ /
ananyabhāvān pārṣadān ātmano marutāṃ gaṇān //

Kauśika said to them: “Fear not! You are my brothers!” / [thus addressing] the hosts of Maruts, his attendants whose devotion was undivided.

64. Do not be afraid, O brothers, "you are for me" said Indra to Maruts who as a class are unswervingly devoted to him as his servants and attendants.

6.18.65

na mamāra ditergarbhaḥ śrīnivāsānukampayā /
bahudhā kuliśakṣuṇṇo drauṇyastreṇa yathā bhavān //

Through the compassion of Śrīnivāsa, Diti's embryo did not die, / though shattered many times by the thunderbolt, just as you [did not die] when struck by Droṇa's son's weapon.

65. Though repeatedly beaten (struck with) vajra, the child in Diti's womb was not killed through the grace of Srinivasa, like thyself who was not killed by the missile of Aswathama.

6.18.66

sakṛdiṣṭvādipuruṣaṃ puruṣo yāti sāmyatām /
saṃvatsaraṃ kiñcidūnaṃ dityā yaddharirarcitaḥ //

Worshiping the Primeval Person only once, a mortal attains likeness unto Him; / how much more so when Hari was worshiped by Diti for nearly a whole year!

66. Having but once performed a sacrifice to the Supreme Person, one attains to His equality whereas Diti worshipped Hari only a little less than a year.

6.18.67

sajūrindreṇa pañcāśaddevāste maruto 'bhavan /
vyapohya mātṛdoṣaṃ te hariṇā somapāḥ kṛtāḥ //

Associated with Indra, those forty-nine gods became the Maruts; / having cleared away the flaw of their mother, they were made drinkers of soma by Hari.

67. With Indra for their friend those Maruts became fifty gods; the fault of their mother being set aside, they were given a share in the Soma drink.

6.18.68

ditirutthāya dadṛśe kumārān analaprabhān /
indreṇa sahitān devī paryatuṣyadaninditā //

Awakening, the blameless goddess Diti beheld the boys radiant as fire, / accompanied by Indra, and she was exceedingly pleased.

68. Awaking, Diti saw sons brilliant like fire with Indra and the faultless lady was very much delighted.

6.18.69

athendramāha tātāhamādityānāṃ bhayāvaham /
apatyamicchanty acaraṃ vratametat suduṣkaram //

She then said to Indra: “Dear son, wishing for an offspring / that would bring fear to the Ādityas, I observed this most difficult vow.

69. Then said she to Indra, "O son, desirous of an issue calculated to cause fear to Aditi's sons, I observed this difficult course of penance.

6.18.70

ekaḥ saṅkalpitaḥ putraḥ sapta saptābhavan katham /
yadi te viditaṃ putra satyaṃ kathaya mā mṛṣā //

One son was intended; how have there come to be seven times seven? / If it is known to you, son, tell me the truth; do not speak falsely.”

70. I was thinking of but one son; how did they become seven times seven; "O son, if it is known to thee tell me the truth, and no falsehood."

6.18.71

/0 indra uvāca
amba te 'haṃ vyavasitamupadhāryāgato 'ntikam /
labdhāntaro 'cchidaṃ garbhamarthabuddhirna dharmadṛk //

Indra said:
“Mother, having understood your resolve, I came near you; / finding a lapse, I cut the embryo, my mind set on self-interest, not discerning dharma.

71. Indra said:— "Mother, knowing the determination of thy heart, I approached thee; having found a way and intent on my own purpose, not considering righteousness, I cut the child in thy womb.

6.18.72

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

The embryo, cut by me into seven, became seven boys; / and though they were cut again, each one into seven, they did not die.

72. When cut into seven pieces there were seven sons, and they were each cut into seven pieces again, but they did not die.

6.18.73

tatastat paramāścaryaṃ vīkṣya vyavasitaṃ mayā /
mahāpuruṣapūjāyāḥ siddhiḥ kāpy ānuṣaṅgiṇī //

Then, beholding that supreme wonder, I understood: / this is some incidental perfection born of the worship of the Great Person.

73. Thereupon observing that wonder I distinctly understood that there was surely something great gained by the worship of the Supreme Person.

6.18.74

ārādhanaṃ bhagavata īhamānā nirāśiṣaḥ /
ye tu necchanty api paraṃ te svārthakuśalāḥ smṛtāḥ //

Desiring only the worship of the Lord without selfish desires, / those who do not wish even for the highest state are considered skilled in their true self-interest.

74. Those who are engaged in the propitiation of the Supreme Lord without any thought of blessings and do not even wish for the highest attainment of final beatitude, are considered really very able in securing their purpose.

6.18.75

ārādhyātmapradaṃ devaṃ svātmānaṃ jagadīśvaram /
ko vṛṇīta guṇasparśaṃ budhaḥ syān narake 'pi yat //

Having worshiped the Deity who gives Himself, one's own Self, the Lord of the universe, / what wise person would choose contact with the material modes, which exists even in hell?

75. Having worshipped the independent Lord and Ruler of the world that bestows His own self (on His devotees,) who, being wise, would seek after contact with the three gunas, which could be had even in hell?

6.18.76

tadidaṃ mama daurjanyaṃ bāliśasya mahīyasi /
kṣantumarhasi mātastvaṃ diṣṭyā garbho mṛtotthitaḥ //

Therefore, O most exalted mother, you should forgive / this wickedness of mine, a fool; by good fortune the embryo has risen from death.”

76. And this wicked act of mine which I have as a fool committed towards the great, O mother, be pleased to pardon; fortunately the child in the womb has risen from death.

6.18.77

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
indrastayābhyanujñātaḥ śuddhabhāvena tuṣṭayā /
marudbhiḥ saha tāṃ natvā jagāma tridivaṃ prabhuḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
Permitted by her, who was pleased by his pure intent, / the lord Indra bowed to her and went to heaven together with the Maruts.

77. Sri Suka said:— Taking leave of her who was pleased with him for his straightforwardness, the powerful Indra, together with Maruts, bowed to her and returned to the celestial region.

6.18.78

evaṃ te sarvamākhyātaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi /
maṅgalaṃ marutāṃ janma kiṃ bhūyaḥ kathayāmi te //

Thus all that you asked me has been recounted to you— / the auspicious birth of the Maruts. What more shall I tell you?”

78. Thus I have told thee all that thou hast enquired of me; auspicious is the birth of Maruts and what else would you desire me to tell you of?