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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 46: Story of Indra & Diti: The Maruts’ regions and Viśālā’s lineage

Summary. Diti obtains divine wind-regions for her children, Viśvāmitra recounts Viśālā’s royal lineage and Sumati comes to welcome the travellers

Sequence

  1. Diti accepts responsibility for breaking the observance and asks Indra to grant her children a divine future (1.46.1–2)
  2. she asks that they become the Maruts and range as winds: one in Brahmā's world, one in Indra's, one in the sky, and four through the quarters (1.46.3–6)
  3. Indra agrees → their arrangement settled, they depart for heaven (1.46.7–9)
  4. Viśvāmitra identifies the surrounding country as the place where Indra served Diti. He now answers Rāma's question about the city: Viśāla, son of Ikṣvāku and Alambuṣā, founded Viśālā (1.46.10–12)
  5. his descendants were Hemacandra, Sucandra, Dhūmrāśva, Sṛñjaya, Sahadeva, Kuśāśva, Somadatta, and Kākutstha → the present King is Kākutstha's son Sumati (1.46.13–17)
  6. Viśvāmitra praises the dynasty's long life and righteousness and proposes staying overnight before visiting Janaka (1.46.18–19)
  7. hearing of his arrival, Sumati comes with priests and relatives, honors him, and declares himself fortunate to receive Viśvāmitra. (1.46.20–22)

Verses 1.46.1–22

1.46.1

saptadhā tu kṛte garbhe ditiḥ paramaduḥkhitā
sahasrākṣaṃ durādharṣaṃ vākyaṃ sānunayābravīt

When the fetus had been made sevenfold, Diti, deeply grieved, spoke conciliating words to the invincible thousand-eyed one:

Words: saptadhā — sevenfold, into seven; tu — and; kṛte garbhe — when the fetus had been made; ditiḥ — Diti; paramaduḥkhitā — deeply grieved; sahasrākṣaṃ — to the thousand-eyed one (Indra); durādharṣaṃ — invincible, hard to assail; vākyaṃ — words, speech; sānunayābravīt — spoke conciliatingly

1.46.2

mamāparādhād garbho 'yaṃ saptadhā viphalīkṛtaḥ
nāparādho 'sti deveśa tavātra balasūdana

“Through my own fault this fetus was rendered fruitless sevenfold; there is no fault of yours in this, O lord of gods, O slayer of Bala.

Words: mamāparādhād — through my fault; garbho — the fetus; 'yaṃ — this; saptadhā — sevenfold; viphalīkṛtaḥ — rendered fruitless; nāparādho — there is no fault; 'sti — is; deveśa — O lord of gods; tavātra — of yours in this; balasūdana — O slayer of Bala

1.46.3

priyaṃ tu kṛtam icchāmi mama garbhaviparyaye
marutāṃ saptaṃ saptānāṃ sthānapālā bhavantv ime

But I wish a kindness done me in this ruin of my womb: let these become the guardians of the stations, the seven times seven Maruts.

Words: priyaṃ — a kindness, favour; tu — but, and; kṛtam — done; icchāmi — I wish; mama — my, for me; garbhaviparyaye — in the reversal/ruin of the womb; marutāṃ — of the Maruts; saptaṃ — seven (=sapta); saptānāṃ — of the sevens (groups); sthānapālā — guardians of stations; bhavantv — let them become; ime — these

1.46.4

vātaskandhā ime sapta carantu divi putrakāḥ
mārutā iti vikhyātā divyarūpā mamātmajāḥ

Let these seven, my little sons, move in the sky as tracts of wind — renowned as the Māruta, of divine form, my offspring.

Words: vātaskandhā — tracts/masses of wind; ime — these; sapta — seven; carantu — let them move, range; divi — in the sky; putrakāḥ — little sons, dear sons; mārutā — the Māruta (wind-gods); iti — thus; vikhyātā — renowned, famed; divyarūpā — of divine form; mamātmajāḥ — my offspring

1.46.5

brahmalokaṃ caratv eka indralokaṃ tathāparaḥ
divi vāyur iti khyātas tṛtīyo 'pi mahāyaśāḥ

Let one range the world of Brahmā, another likewise the world of Indra; and the third, of great renown, is known in the sky as Vāyu (the Wind).

Words: brahmalokaṃ — the world of Brahmā; caratv — let (one) range; eka — one; indralokaṃ — the world of Indra; tathāparaḥ — likewise another; divi — in the sky; vāyur — Vāyu (the Wind); iti — thus, as; khyātas — known, named; tṛtīyo — the third; 'pi — also; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown

1.46.6

catvāras tu suraśreṣṭha diśo vai tava śāsanāt
saṃcariṣyanti bhadraṃ te devabhūtā mamātmajāḥ
tvatkṛtenaiva nāmnā ca mārutā iti viśrutāḥ

And four of them, O best of gods, at your command — blessings on you — my offspring, become divine, shall range the (four) quarters; and by the very name given by you they are famed as the Māruta.

Words: catvāras — four; tu — and; suraśreṣṭha — O best of gods; diśo — the directions, quarters; vai — indeed; tava — your; śāsanāt — by command, at the order; saṃcariṣyanti — shall range, roam; bhadraṃ — blessing; te — to you; devabhūtā — become gods, being divine; mamātmajāḥ — my offspring; tvatkṛtenaiva — by the very (name) given by you; nāmnā — by name; ca — and; mārutā — the Māruta; iti — thus; viśrutāḥ — famed, renowned

1.46.7

tasyās tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ puraṃdaraḥ
uvāca prāñjalir vākyaṃ ditiṃ balaniṣūdanaḥ

Hearing that speech of hers, the thousand-eyed Puraṃdara, slayer of Bala, with palms joined, spoke these words to Diti:

Words: tasyās — of her; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; sahasrākṣaḥ — the thousand-eyed one; puraṃdaraḥ — Puraṃdara (Indra); uvāca — said, spoke; prāñjalir — with palms joined; vākyaṃ — words; ditiṃ — to Diti; balaniṣūdanaḥ — slayer of Bala

1.46.8

sarvam etad yathoktaṃ te bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
vicariṣyanti bhadraṃ te devabhūtās tavātmajāḥ

“All this shall come to pass for you just as you have said, no doubt; your sons, become divine, shall range (the heavens) — blessings on you.”

Words: sarvam — all; etad — this; yathoktaṃ — just as said; te — for you; bhaviṣyati — shall come to pass; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt; vicariṣyanti — shall range, roam; bhadraṃ — blessing; te — to you; devabhūtās — become divine; tavātmajāḥ — your sons

1.46.9

evaṃ tau niścayaṃ kṛtvā mātāputrau tapovane
jagmatus tridivaṃ rāma kṛtārthāv iti naḥ śrutam

Having thus made their resolve, the mother and son in the penance-grove went to heaven, O Rāma, their purpose accomplished — so we have heard.

Words: evaṃ — thus; tau — the two; niścayaṃ — resolve, decision; kṛtvā — having made; mātāputrau — mother and son; tapovane — in the penance-grove; jagmatus — the two went; tridivaṃ — to heaven, the third heaven; rāma — O Rāma; kṛtārthāv — their purpose accomplished; iti — thus; naḥ — by us; śrutam — (it is) heard

1.46.10

eṣa deśaḥ sa kākutstha mahendrādhyuṣitaḥ purā
ditiṃ yatra tapaḥ siddhām evaṃ paricacāra saḥ

This is that land, O Kākutstha, formerly inhabited by great Indra, where he thus waited upon Diti, perfected in her austerity.

Words: eṣa — this; deśaḥ — land, region; sa — that; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; mahendrādhyuṣitaḥ — inhabited by great Indra; purā — formerly, of old; ditiṃ — Diti; yatra — where; tapaḥ — in austerity; siddhām — perfected, accomplished; evaṃ — thus; paricacāra — waited upon, served; saḥ — he

1.46.11

ikṣvākos tu naravyāghra putraḥ paramadhārmikaḥ
alambuṣāyām utpanno viśāla iti viśrutaḥ

O tiger among men, a most righteous son of Ikṣvāku, born of Alambuṣā, was famed as Viśāla.

Words: ikṣvākos — of Ikṣvāku; tu — and; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; putraḥ — son; paramadhārmikaḥ — most righteous; alambuṣāyām — of/from Alambuṣā (an Apsaras); utpanno — born, arisen; viśāla — Viśāla; iti — thus; viśrutaḥ — famed, renowned

1.46.12

tena cāsīd iha sthāne viśāleti purī kṛtā

And by him a city named Viśālā was built here on this spot.

Words: tena — by him; cāsīd — and there was; iha — here; sthāne — on this spot, place; viśāleti — named Viśālā; purī — city; kṛtā — made, built

1.46.13

viśālasya suto rāma hemacandro mahābalaḥ
sucandra iti vikhyāto hemacandrād anantaraḥ

Viśāla's son, O Rāma, was the mighty Hemacandra; next after Hemacandra was one renowned as Sucandra.

Words: viśālasya — of Viśāla; suto — son; rāma — O Rāma; hemacandro — Hemacandra; mahābalaḥ — mighty; sucandra — Sucandra; iti — thus; vikhyāto — renowned; hemacandrād — after Hemacandra; anantaraḥ — next, immediately following

1.46.14

sucandratanayo rāma dhūmrāśva iti viśrutaḥ
dhūmrāśvatanayaś cāpi sṛñjayaḥ samapadyata

Sucandra's son, O Rāma, was famed as Dhūmrāśva; and Dhūmrāśva's son turned out to be Sṛñjaya.

Words: sucandratanayo — the son of Sucandra; rāma — O Rāma; dhūmrāśva — Dhūmrāśva; iti — thus; viśrutaḥ — famed; dhūmrāśvatanayaś cāpi — and the son of Dhūmrāśva also; sṛñjayaḥ — Sṛñjaya; samapadyata — came to be, was born

1.46.15

sṛñjayasya sutaḥ śrīmān sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
kuśāśvaḥ sahadevasya putraḥ paramadhārmikaḥ

Sṛñjaya's son was the illustrious, valiant Sahadeva; Sahadeva's son was the most righteous Kuśāśva.

Words: sṛñjayasya — of Sṛñjaya; sutaḥ — son; śrīmān — illustrious, glorious; sahadevaḥ — Sahadeva; pratāpavān — valiant, majestic; kuśāśvaḥ — Kuśāśva; sahadevasya — of Sahadeva; putraḥ — son; paramadhārmikaḥ — most righteous

1.46.16

kuśāśvasya mahātejāḥ somadattaḥ pratāpavān
somadattasya putras tu kākutstha iti viśrutaḥ

Kuśāśva's son was the splendid, valiant Somadatta; and Somadatta's son was famed as Kākutstha.

Words: kuśāśvasya — of Kuśāśva; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; somadattaḥ — Somadatta; pratāpavān — valiant, majestic; somadattasya — of Somadatta; putras — son; tu — and; kākutstha — Kākutstha; iti — thus; viśrutaḥ — famed

1.46.17

tasya putro mahātejāḥ saṃpraty eṣa purīm imām
āvasaty amaraprakhyaḥ sumatir nāma durjayaḥ

His son, of great splendour, godlike and invincible, named Sumati, now dwells in this very city.

Words: tasya — his; putro — son; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; saṃpraty — now, at present; eṣa — this; purīm — city; imām — this; āvasaty — dwells in; amaraprakhyaḥ — godlike, like the immortals; sumatir — Sumati; nāma — by name; durjayaḥ — invincible, hard to conquer

1.46.18

ikṣvākos tu prasādena sarve vaiśālikā nṛpāḥ
dīrghāyuṣo mahātmāno vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ

Through the grace of Ikṣvāku, all the kings of Viśālā are long-lived, great-souled, valorous, and most righteous.

Words: ikṣvākos — of Ikṣvāku; tu — and; prasādena — through the grace, favour; sarve — all; vaiśālikā — of Viśālā, the Vaiśālika; nṛpāḥ — kings; dīrghāyuṣo — long-lived; mahātmāno — great-souled; vīryavantaḥ — valorous, heroic; sudhārmikāḥ — most righteous

1.46.19

ihādya rajanīṃ rāma sukhaṃ vatsyāmahe vayam
śvaḥ prabhāte naraśreṣṭha janakaṃ draṣṭum arhasi

Here tonight, O Rāma, we shall pass the night in comfort; and tomorrow at dawn, O best of men, you should go to see Janaka.

Words: ihādya — here today; rajanīṃ — the night; rāma — O Rāma; sukhaṃ — comfortably, in ease; vatsyāmahe — we shall dwell, stay; vayam — we; śvaḥ — tomorrow; prabhāte — at dawn; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; janakaṃ — Janaka; draṣṭum — to see; arhasi — you should

1.46.20

sumatis tu mahātejā viśvāmitram upāgatam
śrutvā naravaraśreṣṭhaḥ pratyudgacchan mahāyaśāḥ

And Sumati, of great splendour, best of the foremost of men, of great renown, hearing that Viśvāmitra had arrived, went out to meet him.

Words: sumatis — Sumati; tu — and; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; upāgatam — arrived, come; śrutvā — having heard; naravaraśreṣṭhaḥ — best of the foremost of men; pratyudgacchan — went out to meet; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown

1.46.21

pūjāṃ ca paramāṃ kṛtvā sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ
prāñjaliḥ kuśalaṃ pṛṣṭvā viśvāmitram athābravīt

And, together with his priests and kinsmen, having done him supreme honour, with palms joined, he inquired after his welfare and then said to Viśvāmitra:

Words: pūjāṃ — honour, worship; ca — and; paramāṃ — supreme, highest; kṛtvā — having done; sopādhyāyaḥ — together with his priests/teachers; sabāndhavaḥ — together with his kinsmen; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; pṛṣṭvā — having asked after; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said

1.46.22

dhanyo 'smy anugṛhīto 'smi yasya me viṣayaṃ mune
saṃprāpto darśanaṃ caiva nāsti dhanyataro mama

“I am blessed, I am favoured, O sage, in that you have come into my realm and (granted me) the sight of you; there is none more blessed than I.

Words: dhanyo — blessed, fortunate; 'smy — I am; anugṛhīto — favoured, graced; 'smi — I am; yasya — in that, of whom; me — my; viṣayaṃ — realm, domain; mune — O sage; saṃprāpto — (you have) arrived at, reached; darśanaṃ — the sight, seeing; caiva — and; nāsti — there is not; dhanyataro — more blessed; mama — than I

← 1.45 Story of Indra & Diti: Service, broken observance and division · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.47 Story of Indra & Ahalyā: Indra’s disguise and Gautama’s curses →

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.

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