← 1.44 Story of Indra: Ocean churning and the struggle for nectar · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.46 Story of Indra & Diti: The Maruts’ regions and Viśālā’s lineage →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 45: Story of Indra & Diti: Service, broken observance and division

Summary. Diti seeks a son to kill Indra, he serves her during her observance and exploits her sleeping posture to enter her body and divide the fetus into seven

Sequence

  1. Grieving for her sons, Diti asks Kaśyapa for another son, won through austerity, who can kill Indra (1.45.1–3)
  2. he agrees on the condition that she remain pure for a full thousand years → he touches her and departs for his own austerities (1.45.4–7)
  3. Diti begins her observance at Kuśaplavana (1.45.8)
  4. Indra attends her faithfully, supplying fire, grass, wood, water, roots, and fruit, massaging her and relieving her fatigue (1.45.9–11)
  5. when only ten years remain, she tells him he will soon see his brother → pleased by his service, she promises to reconcile the child to him so that they can share dominion without fear. At noon Diti falls asleep with her feet where her head should be and her hair toward her feet (1.45.12–16)
  6. Indra regards this as a lapse in the required purity and seizes the opportunity → he enters her body and cuts the fetus into seven with his thunderbolt (1.45.17)
  7. its cries wake Diti → saying “Do not weep,” Indra continues cutting (1.45.18–19)
  8. Diti begs him not to kill the child → he comes out in obedience to her plea (1.45.20)
  9. with joined palms and thunderbolt still in hand, he explains that he acted during her lapse to divide the future slayer of Indra, and asks forgiveness. (1.45.21–22)

Verses 1.45.1–22

1.45.1

hateṣu teṣu putreṣu ditiḥ paramaduḥkhitā
mārīcaṃ kāśyapaṃ rāma bhartāram idam abravīt

When those sons had been slain, Diti, deeply grieved, spoke thus to her husband, Mārīca Kāśyapa, O Rāma:

Words: hateṣu teṣu putreṣu — when those sons had been slain; ditiḥ — Diti; paramaduḥkhitā — deeply grieved; mārīcaṃ — Mārīca (son of Marīci); kāśyapaṃ — Kāśyapa; rāma — O Rāma; bhartāram — her husband; idam — this; abravīt — said, spoke

1.45.2

hataputrāsmi bhagavaṃs tava putrair mahābalaiḥ
śakrahantāram icchāmi putraṃ dīrghatapo'rjitam

“I am bereft of my sons, O blessed one, by your mighty sons; I desire a son who will slay Śakra (Indra), one won through long austerity.

Words: hataputrāsmi — I am one whose sons are slain; bhagavaṃs — O blessed one; tava — your; putrair — by the sons; mahābalaiḥ — mighty; śakrahantāram — a slayer of Śakra; icchāmi — I desire; putraṃ — a son; dīrghatapo'rjitam — won through long austerity

1.45.3

sāhaṃ tapaś cariṣyāmi garbhaṃ me dātum arhasi
īdṛśaṃ śakrahantāraṃ tvam anujñātum arhasi

So I shall perform austerity; you should grant me such a (child in the) womb — you should sanction such a slayer of Śakra.

Words: sāhaṃ — so I; tapaś — austerity; cariṣyāmi — I shall perform, practise; garbhaṃ — an embryo, (child in the) womb; me — to me; dātum — to give, grant; arhasi — you should, ought; īdṛśaṃ — such a; śakrahantāraṃ — a slayer of Śakra; tvam — you; anujñātum — to sanction, permit; arhasi — you should, ought

1.45.4

tasyās tadvacanaṃ śrutvā mārīcaḥ kāśyapas tadā
pratyuvāca mahātejā ditiṃ paramaduḥkhitām

Hearing that speech of hers, Mārīca Kāśyapa, of great splendour, then replied to the deeply grieved Diti:

Words: tasyās — of her; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; mārīcaḥ — Mārīca; kāśyapas — Kāśyapa; tadā — then; pratyuvāca — replied, answered; mahātejā — of great splendour; ditiṃ — to Diti; paramaduḥkhitām — deeply grieved

1.45.5

evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ te śucir bhava tapodhane
janayiṣyasi putraṃ tvaṃ śakra hantāram āhave

“So be it; blessings on you; be pure, O you whose wealth is austerity. You shall bring forth a son who will slay Śakra in battle.

Words: evaṃ — so, thus; bhavatu — let it be; bhadraṃ — blessing, good fortune; te — to you; śucir — pure; bhava — be, become; tapodhane — O you whose wealth is austerity; janayiṣyasi — you shall bring forth, bear; putraṃ — a son; tvaṃ — you; śakra — Śakra (Indra); hantāram — a slayer; āhave — in battle

1.45.6

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu śucir yadi bhaviṣyasi
putraṃ trailokya hantāraṃ mattas tvaṃ janayiṣyasi

When a full thousand years is complete, if you shall have remained pure, you shall bring forth from me a son who will slay (the lord of) the three worlds.

Words: pūrṇe — full, complete; varṣasahasre — (when) a thousand years; tu — and, but; śucir — pure; yadi — if; bhaviṣyasi — you shall be, remain; putraṃ — a son; trailokya — the three worlds; hantāraṃ — a slayer of; mattas — from me; tvaṃ — you; janayiṣyasi — you shall bring forth

1.45.7

evam uktvā mahātejāḥ pāṇinā sa mamārja tām
samālabhya tataḥ svastīty uktvā sa tapase yayau

Having spoken thus, the one of great splendour stroked her with his hand; and touching her, then saying 'Fare well,' he went off to his austerity.

Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; mahātejāḥ — the one of great splendour; pāṇinā — with his hand; sa — he; mamārja — stroked, wiped; tām — her; samālabhya — having touched, caressed; tataḥ — then; svastīty — 'fare well', 'be blessed'; uktvā — having said; sa — he; tapase — for austerity; yayau — went

1.45.8

gate tasmin naraśreṣṭha ditiḥ paramaharṣitā
kuśaplavanam āsādya tapas tepe sudāruṇam

When he had gone, O best of men, Diti, greatly delighted, reached Kuśaplavana and performed most terrible austerity.

Words: gate tasmin — when he had gone; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; ditiḥ — Diti; paramaharṣitā — greatly delighted; kuśaplavanam — Kuśaplavana (a holy place); āsādya — having reached; tapas — austerity; tepe — performed, practised; sudāruṇam — most terrible, severe

1.45.9

tapas tasyāṃ hi kurvatyāṃ paricaryāṃ cakāra ha
sahasrākṣo naraśreṣṭha parayā guṇasaṃpadā

While she was performing that austerity, O best of men, the thousand-eyed one (Indra) rendered her service with the highest excellence of virtue.

Words: tapas — austerity; tasyāṃ hi kurvatyāṃ — while she was performing; paricaryāṃ — service, attendance; cakāra — did, rendered; ha — indeed; sahasrākṣo — the thousand-eyed one (Indra); naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; parayā — with the highest, supreme; guṇasaṃpadā — excellence of virtue

1.45.10

agniṃ kuśān kāṣṭham apaḥ phalaṃ mūlaṃ tathaiva ca
nyavedayat sahasrākṣo yac cānyad api kāṅkṣitam

The thousand-eyed one supplied fire, kuśa-grass, firewood, water, fruit, and root likewise, and whatever else was desired.

Words: agniṃ — fire; kuśān — kuśa-grasses; kāṣṭham — firewood; apaḥ — water; phalaṃ — fruit; mūlaṃ — root; tathaiva ca — and likewise; nyavedayat — offered, supplied; sahasrākṣo — the thousand-eyed one; yac — whatever; cānyad — and other; api — also, even; kāṅkṣitam — was desired, wished for

1.45.11

gātrasaṃvāhanaiś caiva śramāpanayanais tathā
śakraḥ sarveṣu kāleṣu ditiṃ paricacāra ha

And with massages of her limbs and likewise with the removal of her fatigue, Śakra waited upon Diti at all times.

Words: gātrasaṃvāhanaiś caiva — and with massages of the limbs; śramāpanayanais — with removals of fatigue; tathā — likewise; śakraḥ — Śakra (Indra); sarveṣu — in all; kāleṣu — times; ditiṃ — upon Diti; paricacāra — waited upon, attended; ha — indeed

1.45.12

atha varṣasahasretu daśone raghu nandana
ditiḥ paramasaṃprītā sahasrākṣam athābravīt

Then, when the thousand years lacked only ten, O delight of the Raghus, Diti, greatly pleased, spoke to the thousand-eyed one:

Words: atha — then; varṣasahasretu — when the thousand years; daśone — less by ten; raghu — the Raghus; nandana — O delight, gladdener; ditiḥ — Diti; paramasaṃprītā — greatly pleased; sahasrākṣam — to the thousand-eyed one; athābravīt — then said

1.45.13

tapaś carantyā varṣāṇi daśa vīryavatāṃ vara
avaśiṣṭāni bhadraṃ te bhrātaraṃ drakṣyase tataḥ

‘For me who am performing austerity, ten years remain, O best of the valiant; blessings on you — then you shall see your brother.

Words: tapaś — austerity; carantyā — for (me) performing; varṣāṇi — years; daśa — ten; vīryavatāṃ — of the valiant; vara — O best; avaśiṣṭāni — remaining, left over; bhadraṃ — blessing, good fortune; te — to you; bhrātaraṃ — brother; drakṣyase — you shall see; tataḥ — then

1.45.14

tam ahaṃ tvatkṛte putra samādhāsye jayotsukam
trailokyavijayaṃ putra saha bhokṣyasi vijvaraḥ

For your sake, my son, I shall bring him to concord, eager though he be for victory; and free of anxiety, my son, you shall together (with him) enjoy the conquest of the three worlds.’

Words: tam — him; ahaṃ — I; tvatkṛte — for your sake; putra — O son; samādhāsye — I shall bring to concord, settle; jayotsukam — eager for victory; trailokyavijayaṃ — the conquest of the three worlds; putra — O son; saha — together (with him); bhokṣyasi — you shall enjoy; vijvaraḥ — free of fever/anxiety

1.45.15

evam uktvā ditiḥ śakraṃ prāpte madhyaṃ divākare
nidrayāpahṛtā devī pādau kṛtvātha śīrṣataḥ

Having spoken thus to Śakra, when the sun had reached the zenith, the lady Diti, overcome by sleep, having placed her feet where the head should be —

Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; ditiḥ — Diti; śakraṃ — to Śakra; prāpte — having reached; madhyaṃ — the middle, zenith; divākare — the sun (day-maker); nidrayāpahṛtā — carried off by sleep; devī — the lady, goddess; pādau — her two feet; kṛtvātha — having placed, then; śīrṣataḥ — toward the head

1.45.16

dṛṣṭvā tām aśuciṃ śakraḥ pādataḥ kṛtamūrdhajām
śiraḥsthāne kṛtau pādau jahāsa ca mumoda ca

Seeing her impure, with her hair toward her feet and her feet set in the place of the head, Śakra both laughed and rejoiced.

Words: dṛṣṭvā — having seen; tām — her; aśuciṃ — impure; śakraḥ — Śakra (Indra); pādataḥ — at the feet; kṛtamūrdhajām — with her hair (turned) toward; śiraḥsthāne — in the place of the head; kṛtau — placed (dual); pādau — the two feet; jahāsa — laughed; ca — and; mumoda — rejoiced; ca — and

1.45.17

tasyāḥ śarīravivaraṃ viveśa ca puraṃdaraḥ
garbhaṃ ca saptadhā rāma bibheda paramātmavān

And Puraṃdara (Indra) entered the opening of her body and, most self-possessed, split the fetus sevenfold, O Rāma.

Words: tasyāḥ — of her, her; śarīravivaraṃ — the opening of the body; viveśa — entered; ca — and; puraṃdaraḥ — Puraṃdara (Indra, breaker of citadels); garbhaṃ — the fetus, embryo; ca — and; saptadhā — sevenfold, into seven; rāma — O Rāma; bibheda — split, cleft; paramātmavān — most self-possessed

1.45.18

bidhyamānas tato garbho vajreṇa śataparvaṇā
ruroda susvaraṃ rāma tato ditir abudhyata

Being split by the hundred-jointed thunderbolt, the fetus then cried out loudly, O Rāma; thereupon Diti awoke.

Words: bidhyamānas — being split; tato — then; garbho — the fetus; vajreṇa — by the thunderbolt; śataparvaṇā — hundred-jointed; ruroda — cried out, wailed; susvaraṃ — loudly, with a shrill cry; rāma — O Rāma; tato — thereupon; ditir — Diti; abudhyata — awoke, woke up

1.45.19

mā rudo mā rudaś ceti garbhaṃ śakro 'bhyabhāṣata
bibheda ca mahātejā rudantam api vāsavaḥ

‘Weep not, weep not!’ — thus Śakra spoke to the fetus; and Vāsava (Indra) of great splendour split it even as it wept.

Words: mā — do not; rudo — weep; mā — do not; rudaś — weep; ceti — 'thus' (and thus); garbhaṃ — to the fetus; śakro — Śakra; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke, said; bibheda — split, cleft; ca — and; mahātejā — the one of great splendour; rudantam — weeping, as it wept; api — even; vāsavaḥ — Vāsava (Indra)

1.45.20

na hantavyo na hantavya ity evaṃ ditir abravīt
niṣpapāta tataḥ śakro mātur vacanagauravāt

‘He must not be slain, he must not be slain!’ — thus said Diti; then Śakra came forth, out of respect for his mother's word.

Words: na — not; hantavyo — to be slain; na — not; hantavya — to be slain; ity — thus; evaṃ — so; ditir — Diti; abravīt — said; niṣpapāta — came forth, sprang out; tataḥ — then; śakro — Śakra; mātur — of his mother; vacanagauravāt — out of respect for the word

1.45.21

prāñjalir vajrasahito ditiṃ śakro 'bhyabhāṣata
aśucir devi suptāsi pādayoḥ kṛtamūrdhajā

With palms joined, still holding the thunderbolt, Śakra spoke to Diti: ‘You slept impure, O lady, with your hair (turned) toward your feet;

Words: prāñjalir — with palms joined; vajrasahito — holding the thunderbolt; ditiṃ — to Diti; śakro — Śakra; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke, said; aśucir — impure; devi — O lady, goddess; suptāsi — you slept; pādayoḥ — at your feet; kṛtamūrdhajā — with your hair (turned) toward

1.45.22

tadantaram ahaṃ labdhvā śakrahantāram āhave
abhindaṃ saptadhā devi tan me tvaṃ kṣantum arhasi

Seizing that opportunity, O lady, I split into seven the one (destined to be) the slayer of Śakra in battle; for that you ought to forgive me.’

Words: tadantaram — that opportunity, interval; ahaṃ — I; labdhvā — having obtained, seized; śakrahantāram — the slayer of Śakra; āhave — in battle; abhindaṃ — I split, cleft; saptadhā — sevenfold, into seven; devi — O lady; tan — that; me — me, for me; tvaṃ — you; kṣantum — to forgive, pardon; arhasi — you ought

← 1.44 Story of Indra: Ocean churning and the struggle for nectar · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.46 Story of Indra & Diti: The Maruts’ regions and Viśālā’s lineage →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/1/45.md · JSON: /data/1/45.json