> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

> *******

> Chapter Eighteen: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> prsnis tu patnî savituh

> sâvitrîm vyâhrtim trayîm

> agnihotram pasum somam

> câturmâsyam mahâ-makhân

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; prsnih--Prsni; tu--then; patnî--wife; savituh--of Savitâ; sâvitrîm--Sâvitrî; vyâhrtim--Vyâhrti; trayîm--Trayî; agnihotram--Agnihotra; pasum--Pasu; somam--Soma; câturmâsyam--Câturmâsya; mahâ-makhân--the five Mahâyajnas.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Prsni, who was the wife of Savita, the fifth of the twelve sons of Aditi, gave birth to three daughters--Savitri, Vyahrti and Trayi--and the sons named Agnihotra, Pasu, Soma, Caturmasya and the five Mahayajnas.

> *******

> TEXT 2

> siddhir bhagasya bhâryânga

> mahimânam vibhum prabhum

> âsisam ca varârohâm

> kanyâm prâsûta suvratâm

> siadhih--Siddhi; bhagasya--of Bhaga; bhâryâ--the wife; anga--my dear King; mahimânam--Mahimâ; vibhum--Vibhu; prabhum--Prabhu; âsisam--Âsî; ca--and; varârohâm--very beautiful; kanyâm--daughter; prâsûta--bore; su-vratâm--virtuous.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 3-4

> dhâtuh kuhûh sinîvâlî

> râkâ cânumatis tathâ

> sâyam darsam atha prâtah

> pûrnamâsam anukramât

> agnîn purîsyân âdhatta

> kriyâyâm samanantarah

> carsanî varunasyâsîd

> yasyâm jâto bhrguh punah

> dhâtuh--of Dhâtâ; kuhûh--Kuhû; sinîvâlî--Sinîvâlî; râkâ--Râkâ; ca--and; anumatih--Anumati; tathâ--also; sâyam--Sâyam; darsam--Darsa; atha--also; prâtah--Prâtah; pûrnamâsam--Pûrnamâsa; anukramât--respectively; agnîn--fire-gods; purîsyân--called the Purîsyas; âdhatta--begot; kriyâyâm--in Kriyâ; samanantarah--the next son, Vidhâtâ; carsanî--Carsanî; varunasya--of Varuna; âsît--was; yasyâm--in whom; jâtah--took birth; bhrguh--Bhrgu; punah--again.

> TRANSLATION

> Bhata, the seventh son of Aditi, had four wives, named Kuhu, Sinivali, Raka and Anumati. These wives begot four sons, named Sayam, Darsa, Pratah and Purnamasa respectively. The wife of Vidhata, the eighth son of Aditi, was named Kriya. In her Vidhata begot the five fire-gods named the Purisyas. The wife of Varuna, the ninth son of Aditi, was named Carsani. Bhrgu, the son of Brahma, took birth again in her womb.

> *******

> TEXT 5

> vâlmîkis ca mahâ-yogî

> valmîkâd abhavat kila

> agastyas ca vasisthas ca

> mitrâ-varunayor rsî

> vâlmîkih--Vâlmîki; ca--and; mahâ-yogî--the great mystic; valmîkât--from an anthill; abhavat--took birth; kila--indeed; agastyah--Agastya; ca--and; vasisthah--Vasistha; ca--also; mitrâ-varunayoh--of Mitra and Varuna; rsî--the two sages.

> TRANSLATION

> By the semen of Varuna, the great mystic Valmiki took birth from an anthill. Bhrgu and Valmiki were specific sons of Varuna, whereas Agastya and Vasistha Rsis were the common sons of Varuna and Mitra, the tenth son of Aditi.

> *******

> TEXT 6

> retah sisicatuh kumbhe

> urvasyâh sannidhau drutam

> revatyâm mitra utsargam

> aristam pippalam vyadhât

> retah--semen; sisicatuh--discharged; kumbhe--in an earthen pot; urvasyâh--of Urvasî; sannidhau--in the presence; drutam--flown; revatyâm--in Revatî; mitrah--Mitra; utsargam--Utsarga; anstam--Arista; pippalam--Pippala; vyadhât--begot.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 7

> paulomyâm indra âdhatta

> trîn putrân iti nah srutam

> jayantam rsabham tâta

> trtîyam mîdhusam prabhuh

> paulomyâm--in Paulomi (Sacîdevî); indrah--Indra; âdhatta--begot; trîn--three; putrân--sons; iti--thus; nah--by us; srutam--heard; jayantam--Jayanta; rsabham--Rsabha; tâta--my dear King; trtîyam--third; mîdhusam--Mîdhusa; prabhuh--the lord.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, Indra, the King of the heavenly planets and eleventh son of Aditi, begot three sons, named Jayanta, Rsabha and Midhusa, in the womb of his wife, Paulomi. Thus we have heard.

> *******

> TEXT 8

> urukramasya devasya

> mâyâ-vâmana-rûpinah

> kîrtau patnyâm brhacchlokas

> tasyâsan saubhagâdayah

> urukramasya--of Urukrama; devasya--the Lord; mâyâ--by His internal potency; vâmana-rûpinah--having the form of a dwarf; kîrtau--in Kîrti; patnyâm--His wife; brhacchlokah--Brhatsloka; tasya--of him; âsan--were; saubhaga-âdayah--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 Kirti, He begot one son, named Brhatsloka, who had many sons, headed by Saubhaga.

> *******

> TEXT 9

> tat-karma-guna-vîryâni

> kâsyapasya mahâtmanah

> pascâd vaksyâmahe 'dityâm

> yathaivâvatatâra ha

> tat--His; karma--activities; guna--qualities; vîryâni--and power; kâsyapasya--of the son of Kasyapa; mahâ-âtmanah--the great soul; pascât--later; vaksyâmahe--I shall describe; adityâm--in Aditi; yathâ--how; eva--certainly; avatatara--descended; ha--indeed.

> TRANSLATION

> Later [in the Eighth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam] I shall describe how Urukrama, Lord Vamanadeva, appeared as the son of the great sage Kasyapa 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.

> *******

> TEXT 10

> atha kasyapa-dâyâdân

> daiteyân kîrtayâmi te

> yatra bhâgavatah srîmân

> prahrâdo balir eva ca

> atha--now; kasyapa-dâyâdân--the sons of Kasyapa; daiteyân--born of Diti; kîrtayâmi--I shall describe; te--to you; yatra--where; bhâgavatah--the great devotee; srî-mân--glorious; prahrâdah--Prahlâda; balih--Bali; eva--certainly; ca--also.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 11

> diter dvâv eva dâyâdau

> daitya-dânava-vanditau

> hiranyakasipur nâma

> hiranyâksas ca kîrtitau

> diteh--of Diti; dvau--two; eva--certainly; dâyâdau--sons; daitya-dânava--by the Daityas and Dânavas; vanditau--worshiped; hiranyakasipuh--Hiranyakasipu; nâma--named; hiranyâksah--Hiranyâksa; ca--also; kîrtitau--known.

> TRANSLATION

> First the two sons named Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa took birth from Diti's womb. Both of them were very powerful and were worshiped by the Daityas and Danavas.

> *******

> TEXT 12-13

> hiranyakasipor bhâryâ

> kayâdhur nâma dânavî

> jambhasya tanayâ sâ tu

> susuve caturah sutân

> samhrâdam prâg anuhrâdam

> hrâdam prahrâdam eva ca

> tat-svasâ simhikâ nâma

> râhum vipracito 'grahît

> hiranyakasipoh--of Hiranyakasipu; bhâryâ--the wife; kayâdhuh--Kayâdhu; nâma--named; dânavî--descendant of Danu; jambhasya--of Jambha; tanayâ--daughter; sâ--she; tu--indeed; susuve--gave birth to; caturah--four; sutân--sons; samhrâdam--Samhlâda; prâk--first; anuhrâdam--Anuhlâda; hrâdam--Hlâda; prahrâdam--Prahlâda; eva--also; ca--and; tat-svasâ--his sister; simhikâ--Simhikâ; nâma--named; râhum--Râhu; vipracitah--from Vipracit; agrahît--received.

> TRANSLATION

> The wife of Hiranyakasipu was known as Kayadhu. She was the daughter of Jambha and a descendant of Danu. She gave birth to four consecutive sons, known as Samhlada, Anuhlada, Hlada and Prahlada. The sister of these four sons was known as Simhika. She married the demon named Vipracit and gave birth to another demon, named Rahu.

> *******

> TEXT 14

> siro 'harad yasya haris

> cakrena pibato 'mrtam

> samhrâdasya krtir bhâryâ-

> sûta pancajanam tatah

> sirah--the head; aharat--cut off; yasya--of whom; harih--Hari; cakrena--with the disc; pibatah--drinking; amrtam--nectar; samhrâdasya--of Samhlâda; krtih--Krti; bhâryâ--the wife; asûta--gave birth to; pancajanam--Pancajana; tatah--from him.

> TRANSLATION

> While Rahu, in disguise, was drinking nectar among the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead severed his head. The wife of Samhlada was named Krti. By union with Samhlada, Krti gave birth to a son named Pancajana.

> *******

> TEXT 15

> hrâdasya dhamanir bhâryâ-

> sûta vâtâpim ilvalam

> yo 'gastyâya tv atithaye

> pece vâtâpim ilvalah

> hrâdasya--of Hlâda; dhamanih--Dhamani; bhâryâ--the wife; asûta--gave birth to; vâtâpim--Vâtâpi; ilvalam--Ilvala; yah--he who; agastyâya--to Agastya; tu--but; atithaye--his guest; pece--cooked; vâtâpim--Vâtâpi; ilvalah--Ilvala.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 16

> anuhrâdasya sûryâyâm

> bâskalo mahisas tathâ

> virocanas tu prâhrâdir

> devyâm tasyâbhavad balih

> anuhrâdasya--of Anuhlâda; sûryâyâm--through Sûryâ; bâskalah--Bâskala; mahisah--Mahisa; tathâ--also; virocanah--Virocana; tu--indeed; prâhrâdih--the son of Prahlâda; devyâm--through his wife; tasya--of him; abhavat--was; balih--Bali.

> TRANSLATION

> The wife of Anuhlada was named Surya. She gave birth to two sons, named Baskala and Mahisa. Prahlada had one son, Virocana, whose wife gave birth to Bali Maharaja.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> bâna jyestham putra-satam

> asanâyâm tato 'bhavat

> tasyânubhâvam suslokyam

> pascâd evâbhidhâsyate

> bâna-jyestham--having Bâna as the eldest; putra-satam--one hundred sons; asanâyâm--through Asanâ; tatah--from him; abhavat--there were; tasya--his; anubhâvam--character; suslokyam--laudable; pascât--later; eva--certainly; abhidhâsyate--will be described.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 18

> bâna ârâdhya girisam

> lebhe tad-gana-mukhyatâm

> yat-pârsve bhagavân âste

> hy adyâpi pura-pâlakah

> bânah--Bâna; ârâdhya--having worshiped; girisam--Lord Siva; lebhe--obtained; tat--of him (Lord Siva); gana-mukhyatâm--the platform of being one of the chief associates; yat-pârsve--beside whom; bhagavân--Lord Siva; âste--remains; hi--because of which; adya--now; api--even; pura-pâlakah--the protector of the capital.

> TRANSLATION

> Since King Bana was a great worshiper of Lord Siva, he became one of Lord Siva's most celebrated associates. Even now, Lord Siva protects King Bana's capital and always stands beside him.

> *******

> TEXT 19

> marutas ca diteh putrâs

> catvârimsan navâdhikâh

> ta âsann aprajâh sarve

> nîtâ indrena sâtmatâm

> marutah--the Maruts; ca--and; diteh--of Diti; putrah--sons; catvârimsat--forty; nava-adhikâh--plus nine; te--they; âsan--were; aprajâh--without sons; sarve--all; nîtâh--were brought; indrena--by Indra; sa-âtmatâm--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.

> *******

> TEXT 20

> srî-râjovâca

> katham ta âsuram bhâvam

> apohyautpattikam guro

> indrena prâpitâh sâtmyam

> kim tat sâdhu krtam hi taih

> srî-râjâ uvâca--King Parîksit said; katham--why; te--they; âsuram--demoniac; bhâvam--mentality; apohya--giving up; autpattikam--due to birth; guro--my dear lord; indrena--by Indra; prâpitâh--were converted; sa-âtmyam--to demigods; kim--whether; tat--therefore; sâdhu--pious activities; krtam--performed; hi--indeed; taih--by them.

> TRANSLATION

> King Pariksit 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?

> *******

> TEXT 21

> ime sraddadhate brahmann

> rsayo hi mayâ saha

> parijnânâya bhagavams

> tan no vyâkhyâtum arhasi

> ime--these; sraddadhate--are eager; brahman--O brâhmana; rsayah--sages; hi--indeed; mayâ saha--with me; parijnânâya--to know; bhagavan--O great soul; tat--therefore; nah--to us; vyâkhyâtum arhasi--please explain.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 22

> srî-sûta uvâca

> tad visnurâtasya sa bâdarâyanir

> vaco nisamyâdrtam alpam arthavat

> sabhâjayan san nibhrtena cetasâ

> jagâda satrâyana sarva-darsanah

> srî-sûtah uvâca--Srî Sûta Gosvâmî said; tat--those; visnurâtasya--of Mahârâja Parîksit; sah--he; bâdarâyanih--Sukadeva Gosvâmî; vacah--words; nisamya--hearing; âdrtam--respectful; alpam--brief; artha-vat--meaningful; sabhâjayan san--praising; nibhrtena cetasâ--with great pleasure; jagâda--replied; satrâyana--O Saunaka; sarva-darsanah--who is aware of everything.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Suta Gosvami said: O great sage Saunaka, after hearing Maharaja Pariksit speak respectfully and briefly on topics essential to hear, Sukadeva Gosvami, who was well aware of everything, praised his endeavor with great pleasure and replied.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> srî-suka uvâca

> hata-putrâ ditih sâkra-

> pârsni-grâhena visnunâ

> manyunâ soka-dîptena

> jvalantî paryacintayat

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; hata-putrâ--whose sons were killed; ditih--Diti; sakra-pârsni-grâhena--who was helping Lord Indra; visnunâ--by Lord Visnu; manyunâ--with anger; soka-dîptena--kindled by lamentation; jvalantî--burning; paryacintayat--thought.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Just to help Indra, Lord Visnu killed the two brothers Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. Because of their being killed, their mother, Diti, overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, contemplated as follows.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> kadâ nu bhrâtr-hantâram

> indriyârâmam ulbanam

> aklinna-hrdayam pâpam

> ghâtayitvâ saye sukham

> kadâ--when; nu--indeed; bhrâtr-hantâram--the killer of the brothers; indriya-ârâmam--very fond of sense gratification; ulbanam--cruel; aklinna-hrdayam--hard hearted; pâpam--sinful; ghâtayitvâ--having caused to be killed; saye--shall I rest; sukham--happily.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 25

> krmi-vid-bhasma-samjnâsîd

> yasyesâbhihitasya ca

> bhûta-dhruk tat-krte svârtham

> kim veda nirayo yatah

> krmi--worms; vit--stool; bhasma--ashes; samjnâ--name; âsît--becomes; yasya--of which (body); îsa-abhihitasya--although designated as king; ca--also; bhûta-dhruk--he who harms others; tat-krte--for the sake of that; sva-artham--his self-interest; kim veda--does he know; nirayah--punishment in hell; yatah--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.

> PURPORT

> The material body, even if possessed by a great king, is ultimately transformed into stool, worms or ashes. When one is too attached to the bodily conception of life, he is certainly not very intelligent.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> âsâsânasya tasyedam

> dhruvam unnaddha-cetasah

> mada-sosaka indrasya

> bhûyâd yena suto hi me

> âsâsânasya--thinking; tasya--of him; idam--this (body); dhruvam--eternal; unnaddha-cetasah--whose mind is unrestrained; mada-sosakah--who can remove the madness; indrasya--of Indra; bhûyât--may there be; yena--by which; sutah--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.

> PURPORT

> One who is in the bodily conception of life is compared in the sastras to animals like cows and asses. Diti wanted to punish Indra, who had become like a lower animal.

> *******

> TEXT 27-28

> iti bhâvena sâ bhartur

> âcacârâsakrt priyam

> susrûsayânurâgena

> prasrayena damena ca

> bhaktyâ paramayâ râjan

> manojnair valgu-bhâsitaih

> mano jagrâha bhâva jnâ-

> sasmitâpânga-vîksanaih

> iti--thus; bhâvena--with the intention; sâ--she; bhartuh--of the husband; âcacâra--performed; asakrt--constantly; priyam--pleasing activities; susrûsayâ--with service; anurâgena--with love; prasrayena--with humility; damena--with self-control; ca--also; bhaktyâ--with devotion; paramayâ--great; râjan--O King; manojnaih--charming; valgu-bhâsitaih--with sweet words; manah--his mind; jagrâha--brought under her control; bhâva-jnâ--knowing his nature; sa-smita--with smiling; apânga-viksanaih--by glancing.

> TRANSLATION

> Thinking in this way [with a desire for a son to kill Indra], Diti began constantly acting to satisfy Kasyapa by her pleasing behavior. O King, Diti always carried out Kasyapa'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.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> evam striyâ jadîbhûto

> vidvân api manojnayâ

> bâdham ity âha vivaso

> na tac citram hi yositi

> evam--thus; striyâ--by the woman; jadîbhûtah--enchanted; vidvân--very learned; api--although; manojnayâ--very expert; bâdham--yes; iti--thus; âha--said; vivasah--under her control; na--not; tat--that; citram--astonishing; hi--indeed; yositi--in the matter of women.

> TRANSLATION

> Although Kasyapa 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.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> vilokyaikânta-bhûtâni

> bhûtâny âdau prajâpatih

> striyam cakre sva-dehârdham

> yayâ pumsâm matir hrtâ

> vilokya--seeing; ekânta-bhûtâni--detached; bhûtâni--the living entities; âdau--in the beginning; prajâpatih--Lord Brahmâ; striyam--the woman; cakre--created; sva-deha--of his body; ardham--half; yayâ--by whom; pumsâm--of men; matih--the mind; hrtâ--carried away.

> TRANSLATION

> In the beginning of creation, Lord Brahma, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> evam susrûsitas tâta

> bhagavân kasyapah striyâ

> prahasya parama-prîto

> ditim âhâbhinandya ca

> evam--thus; susrûsitah--being served; tâta--O dear one; bhagavân--the powerful; kasyapah--Kasyapa; striyâ--by the woman; prahasya--smiling; parama-prîtah--being very pleased; ditim--to Diti; âha--said; abhinandya--approving; ca--also.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 32

> srî-kasyapa uvâca

> varam varaya vâmoru

> prîtas te 'ham anindite

> striyâ bhartari suprîte

> kah kâma iha câgamah

> srî-kasyapah uvâca--Kasyapa Muni said; varam--benediction; varaya--ask; vâmoru--O beautiful woman; prîtah--pleased; te--with you; aham--I; anindite--O irreproachable lady; striyâh--for the woman; bhahari--when the husband; su-prîte--pleased; kah--what; kâmah--desire; iha--here; ca--and; agamah--difficult to obtain.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa 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?

> *******

> TEXT 33-34

> patir eva hi nârînâm

> daivatam paramam smrtam

> mânasah sarva-bhûtânâm

> vâsudevah sriyah patih

> sa eva devatâ-lingair

> nâma-rûpa-vikalpitaih

> ijyate bhagavân pumbhih

> strîbhis ca pati-rûpa-dhrk

> patih--the husband; eva--indeed; hi--certainly; nârinâm--of women; daivatam--demigod; paramam--supreme; smrtam--is considered; mânasah--situated in the heart; sarva-bhûtânâm--of all living entities; vâsudevah--Vâsudeva; sriyah--of the goddess of fortune; patih--the husband;

> sah--He; eva--certainly; devatâ-lingaih--by the forms of the demigods; nâma--names; rûpa--forms; vikalpitaih--conceived; ijyate--is worshiped; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pumbhih--by men; strîbhih--by women; ca--also; pati-rûpa-dhrk--in the form of the husband.

> TRANSLATION

> A husband is the supreme demigod for a woman. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vasudeva, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> tasmât pati-vratâ nâryah

> sreyas-kâmâh sumadhyame

> yajante 'nanya-bhâvena

> patim âtmânam îsvaram

> tasmât--therefore; pati-vratâh--devoted to the husband; nâryah--women; sreyah-kâmâh--conscientious; su-madhyame--O thin-waisted woman; yajante--worship; ananya-bhâvena--with devotion; patim--the husband; atmânâm--the Supersoul; îsvaram--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 Vasudeva.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> so 'ham tvayârcito bhadre

> îdrg-bhâvena bhaktitah

> tam te sampâdaye kâmam

> asatînâm sudurlabham

> sah--such a person; aham--I; tvayâ--by you; arcitah--worshiped; bhadre--O gentle woman; îdrk-bhâvena--in such a way; bhaktitah--with devotion; tam--that; te--your; sampâdaye--shall fulfill; kâmam--desire; asatînâm--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.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> ditir uvâca

> varado yadi me brahman

> putram indra-hanam vrne

> amrtyum mrta-putrâham

> yena me ghâtitau sutau

> ditih uvâca--Diti said; vara-dah--the giver of benedictions; yadi--if; me--to me; brahman--O great soul; putram--a son; indra-hanam--who can kill Indra; vrne--I am asking for; amrtyum--immortal; mrta-putrâ--whose sons are dead; aham--I; yena--by whom; me--my; ghâtitau--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 Visnu, has killed my two sons Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> nisamya tad-vaco vipro

> vimanâh paryatapyata

> aho adharmah sumahân

> adya me samupasthitah

> nisamya--hearing; tat-vacah--her words; viprah--the brâhmana; vimanâh--aggrieved; paryatapyata--lamented; aho--alas; adharmah--impiety; su-mahân--very great; adya--today; me--upon me; samupasthitah--has come.

> TRANSLATION

> Upon hearing Diti's request, Kasyapa Muni was very much aggrieved. "Alas," he lamented, "now I face the danger of the impious act of killing Indra."

> *******

> TEXT 39

> aho arthendriyârâmo

> yosin-mayye ha mâyayâ

> grhîta-cetâh krpanah

> patisye narake dhruvam

> aho--alas; artha-indriya-ârâmah--too attached to material enjoyment; yosit-mayyâ--in the form of a woman; iha--here; mâyayâ--by the illusory energy; grhîta-cetâh--my mind being captivated; krpanah--wretched; patisye--I shall fall; narake--to hell; dhruvam--surely.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa 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.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> ko 'tikramo 'nuvartantyâh

> svabhâvam iha yositah

> dhin mâm batâbudham svârthe

> yad aham tv ajitendriyah

> kah--what; atikramah--offense; anuvartantyâh--following; svabhâvam--her nature; iha--here; yositah--of the woman; dhik--condemnation; mâm--unto me; bata--alas; abudham--not conversant; sva-arthe--in what is good for me; yat--because; aham--I; tu--indeed; ajita-indriyah--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.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> sarat-padmotsavam vaktram

> vacas ca sravanâmrtam

> hrdayam ksura-dhârâbham

> strînâm ko veda cestitam

> sarat--in the autumn; padma--a lotus flower; utsavam--blossoming; vaktram--face; vacah--words; ca--and; sravana--to the ear; amrtam--giving pleasure; hrdayam--heart; ksura-dhârâ--the blade of a razor; âbham--like; strînâm--of women; kah--who; veda--knows; cestitam--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?

> *******

> TEXT 42

> na hi kascit priyah strînâm

> anjasâ svâsisâtmanâm

> patim putram bhrâtaram vâ

> ghnanty arthe ghâtayanti ca

> na--not; hi--certainly; kascit--anyone; priyah--dear; strînâm--to women; anjasâ--actually; sva-âsisâ--for their own interests; âtmanâm--most dear; patim--husband; putram--son; bhrâtaram--brother; vâ--or; ghnanti--they kill; arthe--for their own interests; ghâtayanti--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.

> *******

> TEXT 43

> pratisrutam dadâmîti

> vacas tan na mrsâ bhavet

> vadham nârhati cendro 'pi

> tatredam upakalpate

> pratisrutam--promised; dadâmi--I shall give; iti--thus; vacah--statement; tat--that; na--not; mrsâ--false; bhavet--can be; vadham--killing; na--not; arhati--is suitable; ca--and; indrah--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.

> *******

> TEXT 44

> iti sancintya bhagavân

> mârîcah kuru nandana

> uvâca kincit kupita

> âtmânam ca vigarhayan

> iti--thus; sancintya--thinking; bhagavân--the powerful; mârîcah--Kasyapa Muni; kuru-nandana--O descendant of Kuru; uvâca--spoke; kincit--somewhat; kupitah--angry; âtmânam--himself; ca--and; vigarhayan--condemning.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Kasyapa Muni, thinking in this way, became somewhat angry. Condemning himself, O Maharaja Pariksit, descendant of Kuru, he spoke to Diti as follows.

> *******

> TEXT 45

> srî-kasyapa uvâca

> putras te bhavitâ bhadre

> indra-hâdeva-bândhavah

> samvatsaram vratam idam

> yady anjo dhârayisyasi

> srî-kasyapah uvâca--Kasyapa Muni said; putrah--son; te--your; bhavitâ--will be; bhadre--O gentle woman; indra-hâ--killer of Indra, or follower of Indra; adeva-bândhavah--friend of the demons (or deva-bândhavah--friend of the demigods); samvatsaram--for a year; vratam--vow; idam--this; yadi--if; anjah--properly; dhârayisyasi--you will execute.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa 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 Vaisnava principles, you will get a son who will be favorable to Indra.

> *******

> TEXT 46

> ditir uvâca

> dhârayisye vratam brahman

> brûhi kâryâni yâni me

> yâni ceha nisiddhâni

> na vratam ghnanti yâny uta

> ditih uvâca--Diti said; dhârayisye--I shall accept; vratam--vow; brahman--my dear brâhmana; brûhi--please state; kâryâni--must be done; yâni--what; me--to me; yâni--what; ca--and; iha--here; nisiddhâni--is forbidden; na--not; vratam--the vow; ghnanti--break; yâni--what; uta--also.

> TRANSLATION

> Diti replied: My dear brahmana, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 47

> srî-kasyapa uvâca

> na himsyâd bhûta jâtâni

> na sapen nânrtam vadet

> na chindyân nakha-români

> na sprsed yad amangalam

> srî-kasyapah uvâca--Kasyapa Muni said; na himsyât--must not harm; bhûta jâtâni--the living entities; na sapet--must not curse; na--not; anrtam--a lie; vadet--must speak; na chindyât--must not cut; nakha-români--the nails and hair; na sprset--must not touch; yat--that which; amangalam--impure.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa 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.

> *******

> TEXT 48

> nâpsu snâyân na kupyeta

> na sambhâseta durjanaih

> na vasîtâdhauta-vâsah

> srajam ca vidhrtâm kvacit

> na--not; apsu--in water; snâyât--must bathe; na kupyeta--must not become angry; na sambhâseta--must not speak; durjanaih--with wicked persons; na vasîta--must not wear; adhauta-vâsah--unwashed clothes; srajam--flower garland; ca--and; vidhrtâm--which was already worn; kvacit--ever.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa 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.

> *******

> TEXT 49

> nocchistam candikânnam ca

> sâmisam vrsalâhrtam

> bhunjîtodakyayâ drstam

> piben nânjalinâ tv apah

> na--not; ucchistam--leftover food; candikâ-annam--food offered to the goddess Kâli; ca--and; sa-âmisam--mixed with flesh; vrsala-âhrtam--brought by a sûdra; bhunjîta--must eat; udakyayâ--by a woman in her menstrual period; drstam--seen; pibet na--must not drink; anjalinâ--by joining and cupping the two palms; tu--also; apah--water.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 50

> nocchistâsprsta-salilâ

> sandhyâyâm mukta-mûrdhajâ

> anarcitâsamyata-vâk

> nâsamvîtâ bahis caret

> na--not; ucchistâ--after eating; asprsta-salilâ--without washing; sandhyâyâm--in the evening; mukta-mûrdhajâ--with the hair loose; anarcitâ--without ornaments; asamyata-vâk--without being grave; na--not; asamvîtâ--without being covered; bahih--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.

> *******

> TEXT 51

> nâdhauta-pâdâprayatâ

> nârdra-pâdâ udak-sirâh

> sayîta nâparân nânyair

> na nagnâ na ca sandhyayoh

> na--not; adhauta-pâdâ--without washing the feet; aprayatâ--without being purified; na--not; ardra-pâdâ--with wet feet; udak-sirâh--with the head toward the north; sayîta--should lie down; na--not; aparâk--with the head pointed west; na--not; anyaih--with other women; na--not; nagnâ--naked; na--not; ca--an d; sandhyayoh--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.

> *******

> TEXT 52

> dhauta-vâsâ sucir nityam

> sarva-mangala-samyutâ

> pûjayet prâtarâsât prâg

> go-viprân sriyam acyutam

> dhauta-vâsâ--wearing washed cloth; sucih--being purified; nityam--always; sarva-mangala--with all auspicious items; samyutâ--adorned; pûjayet--one should worship; prâtah-âsât prâk--before breakfast; go-viprân--the cows and brâhmanas; sriyam--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 brahmanas, the goddess of fortune and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> *******

> TEXT 53

> striyo vîravatîs cârcet

> srag-gandha-bali-mandanaih

> patim cârcyopatistheta

> dhyâyet kostha-gatam ca tam

> striyah--women; vîra-vatîh--possessing husbands and sons; ca--and; arcet--she should worship; srak--with garlands; gandha--sandalwood; bali--presentations; mandanaih--and with ornaments; patim--the husband; ca--and; ârcya--worshiping; upatistheta--should offer prayers; dhyâyet--should meditate; kostha-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.

> *******

> TEXT 54

> sâmvatsaram pumsavanam

> vratam etad aviplutam

> dhârayisyasi cet tubhyam

> sakra-hâ bhavitâ sutah

> sâmvatsaram--for one year; pumsavanam--called pumsavana; vratam--vow; etat--this; aviplutam--without violation; dhârayisyasi--you will perform; cet--if; tubhyam--for you; sakra-hâ--the killer of Indra; bhavitâ--will be; sutah--a son.

> TRANSLATION

> Kasyapa Muni continued: If you perform this ceremony called pumsavana, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 55

> bâdham ity abhyupetyâtha

> ditî râjan mahâ-manâh

> kasyapâd garbham âdhatta

> vratam cânjo dadhâra sâ

> bâdham--yes; iti--thus; abhyupetya--accepting; atha--then; ditih--Diti; râjan--O King; mahâ-manâh--jubilant; kasyapât--from Kasyapa; garbham--semen; âdhatta--obtained; vratam--the vow; ca--and; anjah--properly; dadhâra--discharged; sâ--she.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, Diti, the wife of Kasyapa, agreed to undergo the purificatory process known as pumsavana. "Yes," she said, "I shall do everything according to your instructions." With great jubilation she became pregnant, having taken semen from Kasyapa, and faithfully began discharging the vow.

> *******

> TEXT 56

> mâtr-svasur abhiprâyam

> indra âjnâya mânada

> susrûsanenâsrama-sthâm

> ditim paryacarat kavih

> mâtr-svasuh--of his mother's sister; abhiprâyam--the intention; indrah--Indra; âjnâya--understanding; mâna-da--O King Parîksit, who give respect to everyone; susrûsanena--with service; âsrama-sthâm--residing in an âsrama; ditim--Diti; paryacarat--attended upon; kavih--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 asrama.

> *******

> TEXT 57

> nityam vanât sumanasah

> phala-mûla-samit-kusân

> patrânkura-mrdo 'pas ca

> kâle kâla upâharat

> nityam--daily; vanât--from the forest; sumanasah--flowers; phala--fruits; mûla--roots; samit--wood for the sacrificial fire; kusân--and kusa grass; patra--leaves; ankura--sprouts; mrdah--and earth; apah--water; ca--also; kâle kâle--at the proper time; upâharat--brought.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 58

> evam tasyâ vrata-sthâyâ

> vrata-ccharam harir nrpa

> prepsuh paryaca raj jihmo

> mrga-heva mrgâkrtih

> evam--thus; tasyâh--of her; vrata-sthâyâh--who was faithfully discharging her vow; vrata-chidram--a fault in the execution of the vow; harih--Indra; nrpa--O King; prepsuh--desiring to find; paryacarat--served; jihmah--deceitful; mrga-hâ--a hunter; iva--like; mrga-âkrtih--in the form of a deer.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 59

> nâdhyagacchad vrata-cchidram

> tat-paro 'tha mahî-pate

> cintâm tîvrâm gatah sakrah

> kena me syâc chivam tv iha

> na--not; adhyagacchat--could find; vrata-chidram--a fault in the execution of the vow; tat-parah--intent upon that; atha--thereupon; mahî-pate--O master of the world; cintâm--anxiety; tîvrâm--intense; gatah--obtained; sakrah--Indra; kena--how; me--my; syât--can there be; sivam--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.

> *******

> TEXT 60

> ekadâ sâ tu sandhyâyâm

> ucchistâ vrata-karsitâ

> asprsta-vâry-adhautânghrih

> susvâpa vidhi-mohitâ

> ekadâ--once; sâ--she; tu--but; sandhyâyâm--during the evening twilight; ucchistâ--just after eating; vrata--from the vow; karsitâ--weak and thin; asprsta--not touched; vâri--water; adhauta--not washed; anghrih--her feet; susvâpa--went to sleep; vidhi--by fate; mohitâ--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.

> *******

> TEXT 61

> labdhvâ tad-antaram sakro

> nidrâpahrta-cetasah

> diteh pravista udaram

> yogeso yoga-mâyayâ

> labdhvâ--finding; tat-antaram--after that; sakrah--Indra; nidrâ--by sleep; apahrta-cetasah--unconscious; diteh--of Diti; pravistah--entered; udaram--the womb; yoga-îsah--the master of yoga; yoga--of yogic perfections; mâyayâ--by the power.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 62

> cakarta saptadhâ garbham

> vajrena kanaka-prabham

> rudantam saptadhaikaikam

> mâ rodîr iti tân punah

> cakarta--he cut; sapta-dhâ--into seven pieces; garbham--the embryo; vajrena--by his thunderbolt; kanaka--of gold; prabham--which had the appearance; rudantam--crying; sapta-dhâ--into seven pieces; eka-ekam--each one; mâ rodîh--do not cry; iti--thus; tân--them; punah--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.

> *******

> TEXT 63

> tam ûcuh pâtyamânâs te

> sarve prânjalayo nrpa

> kim na indra jighâmsasi

> bhrâtaro marutas tava

> tam--to him; ûcuh--said; pâtyamânâh--being aggrieved; te--they; sarve--all; prânjalayah--with folded hands; nrpa--O King; kim--why; nah--us; indra--O Indra; jighâmsasi--do you want to kill; bhrâtarah--brothers; marutah--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?"

> *******

> TEXT 64

> mâ bhaista bhrâtaro mahyam

> yûyam ity âha kausikah

> ananya-bhâvân pârsadan

> âtmano marutâm ganân

> mâ bhaista--do not fear; bhrâtarah--brothers; mahyam--my: yûyam--you; iti--thus; âha--said; kausikah--Indra; ananya-bhâvân--devoted; pârsadân--followers; âtmanah--his; marutâm ganân--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.

> *******

> TEXT 65

> na mamâra diter garbhah

> srînivâsânukampayâ

> bahudhâ kulisa-ksunno

> drauny-astrena yathâ bhavân

> na--not; mamâra--died; diteh--of Diti; garbhah--the embryo; srînivâsa--of Lord Visnu, the resting place of the goddess of fortune; anukampayâ--by the mercy; bahu-dhâ--into many pieces; kulisa--by the thunderbolt; ksunnah--cut; drauni--of Asvatthâmâ; astrena--by the weapon; yathâ--just as; bhavân--you.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King Pariksit, you were burned by the brahmastra of Asvatthama, but when Lord Krsna 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.

> *******

> TEXT 66-67

> sakrd istvâdi-purusam

> puruso yâti sâmyatâm

> samvatsaram kincid ûnam

> dityâ yad dharir arcitah

> sajûr indrena pancâsad

> devâs te maruto 'bhavan

> vyapohya mâtr-dosam te

> harinâ soma-pâh krtâh

> sakrt--once; istvâ--worshiping; âdi-purusam--the original person; purusah--a person; yâti--goes to; sâmyatâm--possessing the same bodily feature as the Lord; samvatsaram--a year; kincit ûnam--a little less than; dityâ--by Diti; yat--because; harih--Lord Hari; arcitah--was worshiped;

> sajûh--with; indrena--Indra; pancâsat--fifty; devâh--demigods; te--they; marutah--the Maruts; abhavan--became; vyapohya--removing; mâtr-dosam--the fault of their mother; te--they; harinâ--by Lord Hari; soma-pâh--drinkers of soma-rasa; krtâh--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 Visnu. Diti worshiped Lord Visnu 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 ?

> *******

> TEXT 68

> ditir utthâya dadrse

> kumârân anala-prabhân

> indrena sahitân devî

> paryatusyad aninditâ

> ditih--Diti; utthâya--getting up; dadrse--saw; kumârân--children; anala-prabhân--as brilliant as fire; indrena sahitân--with Indra; devî--the goddess; paryatusyat--was pleased; aninditâ--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.

> *******

> TEXT 69

> athendram âha tâtâham

> âdityânâm bhayâvaham

> apatyam icchanty acaram

> vratam etat suduskaram

> atha--thereafter; indram--to Indra; âha--spoke; tâta--dear one; aham--I; âdityânâm--to the Âdityas; bhaya-âvaham--fearful; apatyam--a son; icchantî--desiring; acaram--executed; vratam--vow; etat--this; su-duskaram--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 Adityas.

> *******

> TEXT 70

> ekah sankalpitah putrah

> sapta saptâbhavan katham

> yadi te viditam putra

> satyam kathaya mâ mrsâ

> ekah--one; sankalpitah--was prayed for; putrah--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; mâ--do not (speak); mrsâ--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.

> *******

> TEXT 71

> indra uvâca

> amba te 'ham vyavasitam

> upadhâryâgato 'ntikam

> labdhântaro 'cchidam garbham

> artha-buddhir na dharma-drk

> indrah uvâca--Indra said; amba--O mother; te--your; aham--I; vyavasitam--vow; upadhârya--understanding; âgatah--came; antikam--nearby; labdha--having found; antarah--a fault; acchidam--I cut; garbham--the embryo; artha-buddhih--being self-interested; na--not; dharma-drk--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.

> *******

> TEXT 72

> krtto me saptadhâ garbha

> âsan sapta kumârakâh

> te 'pi caikaikaso vrknâh

> saptadhâ nâpi mamrire

> krttah--cut; me--by me; sapta-dhâ--into seven; garbhah--the embryo; âsan--there came to be; sapta--seven; kumârakâh--babies; te--they; api--although; ca--also; eka-ekasah--each one; vrknâh--cut; sapta-dhâ--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.

> *******

> TEXT 73

> tatas tat paramâscaryam

> vîksya vyavasitam mayâ

> mahâpurusa-pûjâyâh

> siddhih kâpy ânusanginî

> tatah--then; tat--that; parama-âscaryam--great wonder; vîksya--seeing; vyavasitam--it was decided; mayâ--by me; mahâ-purusa--of Lord Visnu; pûjâyâh--of worship; siddhih--result; kâpi--some; ânusanginî--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 Visnu.

> *******

> TEXT 74

> ârâdhanam bhagavata

> îhamânâ nirâsisah

> ye tu necchanty api param

> te svârtha-kusalâh smrtâh

> ârâdhanam--the worship; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; îhamânâh--being interested in; nirâsisah--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; kusalâh--expert; smrtâh--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 Krsna fulfills all their desires.

> *******

> TEXT 75

> ârâdhyâtma-pradam devam

> svâtmânam jagad-îsvaram

> ko vrnîta guna-sparsam

> budhah syân narake 'pi yat

> ârâdhya--after worshiping; âtma-pradam--who gives Himself; devam--the Lord; sva-âtmânam--the most dear; jagat-îsvaram--the Lord of the universe; kah--what; vrnîta--would choose; guna-sparsam--material happiness; budhah--intelligent person; syât--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?

> *******

> TEXT 76

> tad idam mama daurjanyam

> bâlisasya mahîyasi

> ksantum arhasi mâtas tvam

> distyâ garbho mrtotthitah

> tat--that; idam--this; mama--of me; daurjanyam--evil deed; bâlisasya--a fool; mahîyasi--O best of women; ksantum arhasi--please excuse; mâtah--O mother; tvam--you; distyâ--by fortune; garbhah--the child within the womb; mrta--killed; utthitah--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.

> *******

> TEXT 77

> srî-suka uvâca

> indras tayâbhyanujnâtah

> suddha-bhâvena tustayâ

> marudbhih saha tâm natvâ

> jagâma tri-divam prabhuh

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; indrah--Indra; tayâ--by her; abhyanujnâtah--being permitted; suddha-bhâvena--by the good behavior; tustayâ--satisfied; marudbhih saha--with the Maruts; tâm--to her; natvâ--having offered obeisances; jagâma--he went; tri-divam--to the heavenly planets; prabhuh--the Lord.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami 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.

> *******

> TEXT 78

> evam te sarvam âkhyâtam

> yan mâm tvam pariprcchasi

> mangalam marutâm janma

> kim bhûyah kathayâmi te

> evam--thus; te--to you; sarvam--all; âkhyâtam--narrated; yat--which; mâm--me; tvam--you; pariprcchasi--asked; mangalam--auspicious; marutâm--of the Maruts; janma--the birth; kim--what; bhûyah--further; kathayâmi--shall I speak; te--to you.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King Pariksit, 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.

> > Back to the running text