Diti's Third Son Bala, and His Slaying by Indra

Verse 1 (padma.2.23.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- विचित्रेयं कथा पुण्या धन्या यशोविधायिनी । सर्वपापहरा प्रोक्ता भवता वदतां वर

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- vicitreyaṁ kathā puṇyā dhanyā yaśovidhāyinī sarvapāpaharā proktā bhavatā vadatāṁ vara

The sages said: 'Wondrous is this meritorious story, blessed, bestower of fame, declared by you, O best of speakers, as the remover of every sin.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.23.2)

सृष्टिसंबंधमेतन्नस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति । पूर्वमेव यथासृष्टिर्विस्तरात्सूतनंदन

sṛṣṭisaṁbaṁdhametannastadbhavānvaktumarhati pūrvameva yathāsṛṣṭirvistarātsūtanaṁdana

'You should now tell us of this connection with creation, just as the creation happened before, in full, O son of Suta.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.23.3)

सूत उवाच- विस्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि सृष्टिसंहारकारणम् । श्रुतमात्रेण यस्यापि नरः सर्वज्ञतां व्रजेत्

sūta uvāca- vistareṇa pravakṣyāmi sṛṣṭisaṁhārakāraṇam śrutamātreṇa yasyāpi naraḥ sarvajñatāṁ vrajet

Suta said: I shall relate in full the cause of creation and dissolution, by merely hearing which a man attains omniscience.

Verse 4 (padma.2.23.4)

हिरण्यकश्यपेनापि व्यापितं भुवनत्रयम् । तपसाराध्य प्रबह्माणं वरं प्राप्तं सुदुर्लभम्

hiraṇyakaśyapenāpi vyāpitaṁ bhuvanatrayam tapasārādhya prabahmāṇaṁ varaṁ prāptaṁ sudurlabham

By Hiranyakashipu too the three worlds were once pervaded with his power; through austerity he had worshipped Brahma and obtained a boon most hard to attain.

Verse 5 (padma.2.23.5)

तस्माद्देवान्महाभागादमरत्वं तथैव च । देवाँल्लोकान्स संव्याप्य प्रभुत्वं स्वयमर्जितम्

tasmāddevānmahābhāgādamaratvaṁ tathaiva ca devā~llokānsa saṁvyāpya prabhutvaṁ svayamarjitam

—from him, that greatly fortunate Brahma, he obtained immortality likewise; pervading the worlds of the gods, he won for himself sovereignty.

Verse 6 (padma.2.23.6)

ततो देवाः सगंधर्वा मुनयो वेदपारगाः । नागाश्च किन्नराः सिद्धा यक्षाश्चैव तथापरे

tato devāḥ sagaṁdharvā munayo vedapāragāḥ nāgāśca kinnarāḥ siddhā yakṣāścaiva tathāpare

Then the gods, together with gandharvas, sages versed in the Veda, nagas, kinnaras, siddhas, yakshas, and others besides—

Verse 7 (padma.2.23.7)

ब्रह्माणं तु पुरस्कृत्य जग्मुर्नारायणं प्रभुम् । क्षीरसागरसंसुप्तं योगनिद्रां गतं प्रभुम्

brahmāṇaṁ tu puraskṛtya jagmurnārāyaṇaṁ prabhum kṣīrasāgarasaṁsuptaṁ yoganidrāṁ gataṁ prabhum

—placing Brahma at their head, went to the Lord Narayana, who lay sleeping in the ocean of milk, that Lord gone into his yogic slumber.

Verse 8 (padma.2.23.8)

तं संबोध्य महास्तोत्रैर्देवाः प्रांजलयस्तथा । संबुद्धे सति देवेशे वृत्तं तस्य दुरात्मनः

taṁ saṁbodhya mahāstotrairdevāḥ prāṁjalayastathā saṁbuddhe sati deveśe vṛttaṁ tasya durātmanaḥ

Awakening him with great hymns, the gods, hands joined in reverence — when the Lord of gods had thus awakened, the whole affair of that evil-souled one—

Verse 9 (padma.2.23.9)

आचचक्षुर्महाप्राज्ञ समाकर्ण्य जगत्पतिः । नृसिंहरूपमास्थाय हिरण्यकशिपुं व्यहन्

ācacakṣurmahāprājña samākarṇya jagatpatiḥ nṛsiṁharūpamāsthāya hiraṇyakaśipuṁ vyahan

—they related to that greatly wise Lord of the world; hearing it, he, taking on the form of Narasimha, slew Hiranyakashipu.

Verse 10 (padma.2.23.10)

पुनर्वाराहरूपेण हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः । उद्धृता वसुधा पुण्या असुरो घातितस्तदा

punarvārāharūpeṇa hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ uddhṛtā vasudhā puṇyā asuro ghātitastadā

Again, in the form of Varaha, he slew the mighty Hiranyaksha — the sacred earth was raised up, and that asura was slain then.

Verse 11 (padma.2.23.11)

अन्यांश्चघातयामास दानवान्घोरदर्शनान् । एवं चैतेषु नष्टेषु दानवेषु महत्सु च

anyāṁścaghātayāmāsa dānavānghoradarśanān evaṁ caiteṣu naṣṭeṣu dānaveṣu mahatsu ca

He slew other danavas too, terrible to behold; and thus, when these great danavas had been destroyed—

Verse 12 (padma.2.23.12)

अन्येषु तेषु नष्टेषु दितिपुत्रेषु वै तदा । पुनः स्थानेषु प्राप्तेषु देवेषु च महत्सु च

anyeṣu teṣu naṣṭeṣu ditiputreṣu vai tadā punaḥ sthāneṣu prāpteṣu deveṣu ca mahatsu ca

—and those other sons of Diti had been destroyed as well, and the great gods had regained their own stations once more—

Verse 13 (padma.2.23.13)

यज्ञेष्वेव प्रवृत्तेषु सर्वेषु धर्मकर्मसु । सुस्थेषु सर्वलोकेषु सा दितिर्दुःखपीडिता

yajñeṣveva pravṛtteṣu sarveṣu dharmakarmasu sustheṣu sarvalokeṣu sā ditirduḥkhapīḍitā

—when sacrifices were resumed, and all rites of dharma, and all the worlds were at peace, Diti, tormented by grief—

Verse 14 (padma.2.23.14)

पुत्रशोकेन संतप्ता हाहाभूता विचेतना । भर्तारं सूर्यसंकाशं तपस्तेजः समन्वितम्

putraśokena saṁtaptā hāhābhūtā vicetanā bhartāraṁ sūryasaṁkāśaṁ tapastejaḥ samanvitam

—burning with grief for her sons, crying out in anguish, bereft of awareness, went to her husband, resembling the sun, joined with the splendor of austerity—

Verse 15 (padma.2.23.15)

दातारं च महात्मानं भर्तारं कश्यपं तदा । भक्त्या प्रणम्य विप्रेन्द्र तमुवाच महामतिम्

dātāraṁ ca mahātmānaṁ bhartāraṁ kaśyapaṁ tadā bhaktyā praṇamya viprendra tamuvāca mahāmatim

—the great-souled giver, her husband Kashyapa; bowing to him with devotion, O foremost of brahmins, she spoke to that great-minded one:

Verse 16 (padma.2.23.16)

भगवन्नष्टपुत्राहं कृता देवेन चक्रिणा । दैतेया दानवाः सर्वे देवैश्चैव निपातिताः

bhagavannaṣṭaputrāhaṁ kṛtā devena cakriṇā daiteyā dānavāḥ sarve devaiścaiva nipātitāḥ

'O Lord, I have been made sonless by that discus-bearing god; all the daityas and danavas have been struck down by the gods.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.23.17)

पुत्रशोकानलेनाहं संतप्ता मुनिसत्तम । ममानंदकरं पुत्रं सर्वतेजोहरं विभो

putraśokānalenāhaṁ saṁtaptā munisattama mamānaṁdakaraṁ putraṁ sarvatejoharaṁ vibho

'I am consumed by the fire of grief for my sons, O worthy sage. Grant me a son who brings me joy, O mighty one, who takes away all my sorrow—'

Verse 18 (padma.2.23.18)

सुबलं चारुसर्वांगं देवराजसमप्रभम् । बुद्धिमंतं सुसर्वज्ञं ज्ञातारं सर्वपंडितम्

subalaṁ cārusarvāṁgaṁ devarājasamaprabham buddhimaṁtaṁ susarvajñaṁ jñātāraṁ sarvapaṁḍitam

—'of fine strength, lovely in every limb, of splendor equal to the king of the gods; intelligent, truly all-knowing, learned, wise in everything—'

Verse 19 (padma.2.23.19)

तपस्तेजः समायुक्तं सबलं चारुलक्षणम् । ब्रह्मण्यं ज्ञानवेत्तारं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम्

tapastejaḥ samāyuktaṁ sabalaṁ cārulakṣaṇam brahmaṇyaṁ jñānavettāraṁ devabrāhmaṇapūjakam

—'joined with the splendor of austerity, strong, of lovely marks; devoted to brahmins, a knower of knowledge, a worshipper of gods and brahmins—'

Verse 20 (padma.2.23.20)

जेतारं सर्वलोकानां ममानंदकरं द्विज । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं पुत्रं मे देहि त्वं विभो

jetāraṁ sarvalokānāṁ mamānaṁdakaraṁ dvija sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannaṁ putraṁ me dehi tvaṁ vibho

—'a conqueror of every world, the bringer of my joy, O brahmin; grant me such a son, endowed with every auspicious mark, O mighty one.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.23.21)

एवमाकर्ण्य वै तस्याः कश्यपो वाक्यमुत्तमम् । कृपाविष्टमनास्तुष्टो दुःखिताया द्विजोत्तम

evamākarṇya vai tasyāḥ kaśyapo vākyamuttamam kṛpāviṣṭamanāstuṣṭo duḥkhitāyā dvijottama

Hearing this excellent word of hers, Kashyapa, his mind filled with compassion, was moved for that grieving woman, O best of brahmins—

Verse 22 (padma.2.23.22)

तामुवाच महाभाग कृपणां दीनमानसाम् । तस्याः शिरसि संन्यस्य स्वहस्तं भावतत्परः

tāmuvāca mahābhāga kṛpaṇāṁ dīnamānasām tasyāḥ śirasi saṁnyasya svahastaṁ bhāvatatparaḥ

—and, O greatly fortunate one, said to that wretched, downcast woman, placing his own hand upon her head, devoted wholly to her welfare:

Verse 23 (padma.2.23.23)

भविष्यति महाभागे यादृशो वांछितः सुतः । एवमुक्त्वा जगामासौ मेरुं गिरिवरोत्तमम्

bhaviṣyati mahābhāge yādṛśo vāṁchitaḥ sutaḥ evamuktvā jagāmāsau meruṁ girivarottamam

—'A son of just the kind you desire shall be born, O greatly fortunate one.' Having said this, he went to Meru, foremost of mountains—

Verse 24 (padma.2.23.24)

तपस्तेपे निरालंबः साधयन्परमव्रतः । एतस्मिन्नंतरे सा तु दधार गर्भमुत्तमम्

tapastepe nirālaṁbaḥ sādhayanparamavrataḥ etasminnaṁtare sā tu dadhāra garbhamuttamam

—and, dependent on nothing, performed austerity, accomplishing his supreme vow. In the meantime, she conceived a supreme pregnancy.

Verse 25 (padma.2.23.25)

सा दितिः सर्वधर्मज्ञा चारुकर्मा मनस्विनी । शतवर्षप्रमाणं सा शुचि स्वांता बभूव ह

sā ditiḥ sarvadharmajñā cārukarmā manasvinī śatavarṣapramāṇaṁ sā śuci svāṁtā babhūva ha

That Diti, knower of every dharma, of lovely conduct, resolute, remained pure of heart for the span of a hundred years.

Verse 26 (padma.2.23.26)

तया वै जनितः पुत्रो ब्रह्मतेजः समन्वितः । अथ कश्यप आयातो हर्षेण महतान्वितः

tayā vai janitaḥ putro brahmatejaḥ samanvitaḥ atha kaśyapa āyāto harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ

By her a son was indeed born, joined with the splendor of Brahman; then Kashyapa came, filled with great joy.

Verse 27 (padma.2.23.27)

चकार नाम मेधावी तस्य पुत्रस्य सत्तमः । बलमित्यब्रवीत्पुत्रं नामतः सदृशो महान्

cakāra nāma medhāvī tasya putrasya sattamaḥ balamityabravītputraṁ nāmataḥ sadṛśo mahān

That wise, worthy one gave a name to that son; 'Bala', Strength, he called him — a great name fitting one so great.

Verse 28 (padma.2.23.28)

एवं नाम चकाराथ व्रतबंधं चकार सः । प्राह पुत्र महाभाग ब्रह्मचर्यं प्रसाधय

evaṁ nāma cakārātha vratabaṁdhaṁ cakāra saḥ prāha putra mahābhāga brahmacaryaṁ prasādhaya

Having thus given the name, he performed the sacred-thread ceremony, and said: 'My son, O greatly fortunate one, accomplish the discipline of celibate studentship.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.23.29)

एवमेवं करिष्यामि तव वाक्यं द्विजोत्तम । वेदस्याध्ययनं कुर्यां ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्तम

evamevaṁ kariṣyāmi tava vākyaṁ dvijottama vedasyādhyayanaṁ kuryāṁ brahmacaryeṇa sattama

'So indeed shall I do, as you say, O best of brahmins; I shall undertake the study of the Veda through celibate discipline, O worthy one.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.23.30)

एवं वर्षशतं साग्रं गतं तस्य तपस्यतः । मातुः समक्षमायातस्तपस्तेजः समन्वितः

evaṁ varṣaśataṁ sāgraṁ gataṁ tasya tapasyataḥ mātuḥ samakṣamāyātastapastejaḥ samanvitaḥ

Thus a full hundred years passed as he performed his austerity; then, joined with the splendor of that austerity, he came before his mother.

Verse 31 (padma.2.23.31)

तपोवीर्यमयं दिव्यं ब्रह्मचर्यं महात्मनः । दितिः पश्यति पुत्रस्य हर्षेण महतान्विता

tapovīryamayaṁ divyaṁ brahmacaryaṁ mahātmanaḥ ditiḥ paśyati putrasya harṣeṇa mahatānvitā

Diti, filled with great joy, beheld her son's divine strength born of austerity and celibate discipline.

Verse 32 (padma.2.23.32)

तमुवाच महात्मानं बलं पुत्रं तपस्विनम् । मेधाविनं महात्मानं प्रज्ञाज्ञानविशारदम्

tamuvāca mahātmānaṁ balaṁ putraṁ tapasvinam medhāvinaṁ mahātmānaṁ prajñājñānaviśāradam

She said to that great-souled, ascetic son Bala, that wise, great-souled one, skilled in wisdom and knowledge:

Verse 33 (padma.2.23.33)

त्वयि जीवति मेधाविन्प्रजीवंति सुता मम । हिरण्यकशिपाद्यास्ते ये हताश्चक्रपाणिना

tvayi jīvati medhāvinprajīvaṁti sutā mama hiraṇyakaśipādyāste ye hatāścakrapāṇinā

—'While you live, O wise one, my sons — Hiranyakashipu and the rest, who were slain by the discus-bearer — live on through you indeed.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.23.34)

वैरं साधय मे वत्स जहि देवान्रिपून्रणे । सा दनुस्तमुवाचेदं बलं पुत्रं महाबलम्

vairaṁ sādhaya me vatsa jahi devānripūnraṇe sā danustamuvācedaṁ balaṁ putraṁ mahābalam

'Avenge this enmity for me, my son; slay the gods, our enemies, in battle.' And Danu too spoke this word to Bala, that mighty son:

Verse 35 (padma.2.23.35)

आदाविंद्रं हि देवेंद्रं द्रुतं सूदय पुत्रक । पश्चाद्देवा निपात्यंतां ततो गरुडवाहनः

ādāviṁdraṁ hi deveṁdraṁ drutaṁ sūdaya putraka paścāddevā nipātyaṁtāṁ tato garuḍavāhanaḥ

—'First, my son, swiftly slay Indra, king of the gods; afterward let the other gods be struck down, and then the one who rides Garuda.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.23.36)

तयोराकर्ण्य सा देवी अदितिः पतिदेवता । दुःखेन महताविष्टा पुत्रमिंद्रमभाषत

tayorākarṇya sā devī aditiḥ patidevatā duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭā putramiṁdramabhāṣata

Hearing of these two, Diti and Danu's plotting, that goddess Aditi, devoted to her husband, filled with great distress, spoke to her son Indra:

Verse 37 (padma.2.23.37)

दितिपुत्रो महाकायो वर्द्धते ब्रह्मतेजसा । देवानां हि वधार्थाय तपस्तेपे निरंजने

ditiputro mahākāyo varddhate brahmatejasā devānāṁ hi vadhārthāya tapastepe niraṁjane

—'The mighty-bodied son of Diti grows through the splendor of Brahman; he has performed his austerity, O spotless one, for the very purpose of slaying the gods.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.23.38)

एवं जानीहि देवेश यदि क्षेममिहेच्छसि । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं स मातुः पाकशासनः

evaṁ jānīhi deveśa yadi kṣemamihecchasi evamākarṇya tadvākyaṁ sa mātuḥ pākaśāsanaḥ

'Know this, O lord of the gods, if you wish for safety here.' Hearing this word of his mother, Pakashasana, Indra—

Verse 39 (padma.2.23.39)

चिंतामवाप दुःखेन महतीं देवराट्तदा । महाभयेन संत्रस्तश्चिंतयामास वै ततः

ciṁtāmavāpa duḥkhena mahatīṁ devarāṭtadā mahābhayena saṁtrastaściṁtayāmāsa vai tataḥ

—the king of the gods then fell into great anxiety and sorrow; terrified by great fear, he pondered thus:

Verse 40 (padma.2.23.40)

कथमेनं हनिष्यामि देवधर्मविदूषकम् । इति निश्चित्य देवेशो बलस्य निधनं प्रति

kathamenaṁ haniṣyāmi devadharmavidūṣakam iti niścitya deveśo balasya nidhanaṁ prati

—'How shall I slay this defiler of the gods' own dharma?' Having thus resolved, the Lord of the gods turned his mind toward the destruction of Bala.

Verse 41 (padma.2.23.41)

एकदा हि बलः सोपि संध्यार्थं सिंधुमाश्रितः । कृष्णाजिनेन दिव्येन दंडकाष्ठेन राजितः

ekadā hi balaḥ sopi saṁdhyārthaṁ siṁdhumāśritaḥ kṛṣṇājinena divyena daṁḍakāṣṭhena rājitaḥ

One day, Bala too went to the ocean for his evening rites, adorned with a divine black antelope-skin and a staff of wood—

Verse 42 (padma.2.23.42)

अमलेनापि पुण्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण तेन सः । सागरस्योपकंठे तं संध्यासनमुपागतम्

amalenāpi puṇyena brahmacaryeṇa tena saḥ sāgarasyopakaṁṭhe taṁ saṁdhyāsanamupāgatam

—with that spotless, meritorious celibate discipline; approaching that seat by the shore of the ocean for his evening devotions—

Verse 43 (padma.2.23.43)

जपमानं सुशांतं तं ददृशे पाकशासनः । वज्रेण तेन दिव्येन ताडितो दितिनंदनः

japamānaṁ suśāṁtaṁ taṁ dadṛśe pākaśāsanaḥ vajreṇa tena divyena tāḍito ditinaṁdanaḥ

—there, as he sat murmuring his prayers, most tranquil, Pakashasana beheld him; and with that divine thunderbolt, the son of Diti was struck down.

Verse 44 (padma.2.23.44)

बलं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा गतसत्वं गतं भुवि । हर्षेण महताविष्टो देवराण्मुमुदे तदा

balaṁ nipatitaṁ dṛṣṭvā gatasatvaṁ gataṁ bhuvi harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo devarāṇmumude tadā

Seeing Bala fallen, his life gone, cast down upon the ground, the king of the gods, filled with great joy, rejoiced then.

Verse 45 (padma.2.23.45)

एवं निपात्य तं दैत्यं दितिनंदनमेव च । राज्यं चकार धर्मात्मा सुखेन पाकशासनः

evaṁ nipātya taṁ daityaṁ ditinaṁdanameva ca rājyaṁ cakāra dharmātmā sukhena pākaśāsanaḥ

Having thus struck down that daitya, the very son of Diti, that righteous Pakashasana ruled his kingdom in happiness.