The Birth of the Maruts from Diti's Shattered Womb

Verse 1 (padma.2.26.1)

सूत उवाच- तं पुत्रं निहतं श्रुत्वा सा दितिर्दुःखपीडिता । पुत्रशोकेन तेनैव संदग्धा द्विजसत्तमाः

sūta uvāca- taṁ putraṁ nihataṁ śrutvā sā ditirduḥkhapīḍitā putraśokena tenaiva saṁdagdhā dvijasattamāḥ

Suta said: Hearing of that son, Vritra, slain, Diti, tormented by grief, was consumed by that very grief for her son, O worthy brahmins.

Verse 2 (padma.2.26.2)

पुनरूचे महात्मानं कश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम् । इंद्रस्यापि सुदुष्टस्य वधार्थं द्विजसत्तम

punarūce mahātmānaṁ kaśyapaṁ munipuṁgavam iṁdrasyāpi suduṣṭasya vadhārthaṁ dvijasattama

She spoke once more to that great soul, the sage Kashyapa, foremost of sages: 'For the destruction, O worthy brahmin, of that most wicked Indra—'

Verse 3 (padma.2.26.3)

ब्रह्मतेजोमयं तीव्रं दुःसहं सर्वदैवतैः । पुत्रैकं दीयतां कांत सुप्रियाहं यदा विभो

brahmatejomayaṁ tīvraṁ duḥsahaṁ sarvadaivataiḥ putraikaṁ dīyatāṁ kāṁta supriyāhaṁ yadā vibho

—'grant me one son, made wholly of Brahman's splendor, fierce, unbearable even to all the gods, my dear, if indeed I am truly dear to you, O mighty one.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.26.4)

कश्यप उवाच- निहतौ बलवृत्रौ च मम पुत्रौ महाबलौ । अघमाश्रित्य देवेन इंद्रेणापि दुरात्मना

kaśyapa uvāca- nihatau balavṛtrau ca mama putrau mahābalau aghamāśritya devena iṁdreṇāpi durātmanā

Kashyapa said: 'Bala and Vritra, my two mighty sons, have both been slain, through the resort to sin by that evil-souled god Indra.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.26.5)

तस्यैव च वधार्थाय पुत्रमेकं ददाम्यहम् । वर्षाणां तु शतैकं त्वं शुचिर्भव यशस्विनि

tasyaiva ca vadhārthāya putramekaṁ dadāmyaham varṣāṇāṁ tu śataikaṁ tvaṁ śucirbhava yaśasvini

'For his destruction I shall grant one son; for a full hundred years, remain pure, O renowned one.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.26.6)

एवमुक्त्वा स योगींद्रो हस्तं शिरसि वै तदा । दत्त्वादित्या सहैवासौ गतो मेरुं तपोवनम्

evamuktvā sa yogīṁdro hastaṁ śirasi vai tadā dattvādityā sahaivāsau gato meruṁ tapovanam

Having said this, that lord of yogis, placing his hand upon her head, went together with Diti to Meru, the forest of austerity.

Verse 7 (padma.2.26.7)

तपस्तताप सा देवी तपोवननिवासिनी । शुचिष्मती सदा भूत्वा पुत्रार्था द्विजसत्तम

tapastatāpa sā devī tapovananivāsinī śuciṣmatī sadā bhūtvā putrārthā dvijasattama

That goddess-like woman performed austerity, dwelling in the forest of austerity; ever remaining pure, desiring a son, O worthy brahmin.

Verse 8 (padma.2.26.8)

ततो देवः सहस्राक्षो ज्ञात्वा उद्यममेव च । दित्याश्चैव महाभाग अंतरप्रेक्षकोऽभवत्

tato devaḥ sahasrākṣo jñātvā udyamameva ca dityāścaiva mahābhāga aṁtaraprekṣako'bhavat

Then the god, the thousand-eyed one, learning of this very effort of Diti, O greatly fortunate one, became a watcher for her weakness.

Verse 9 (padma.2.26.9)

पंचविंशाब्दिको भूत्वा देवराड्दैवतोपमः । ब्राह्मणस्य च रूपेण तस्याश्चांतिकमागतः

paṁcaviṁśābdiko bhūtvā devarāḍdaivatopamaḥ brāhmaṇasya ca rūpeṇa tasyāścāṁtikamāgataḥ

Taking the form of a twenty-five-year-old, that king of the gods, resembling a god, in the form of a brahmin, came near to her.

Verse 10 (padma.2.26.10)

स तां प्रणम्य धर्मात्मा मातरं तपसान्विताम् । तयोक्तस्तु सहस्राक्षो भवान्को द्विजसत्तम

sa tāṁ praṇamya dharmātmā mātaraṁ tapasānvitām tayoktastu sahasrākṣo bhavānko dvijasattama

That righteous soul bowed to her, that mother joined with austerity; and the thousand-eyed one was asked by her: 'Who are you, O worthy brahmin?'

Verse 11 (padma.2.26.11)

तामुवाच सहस्राक्षः पुत्रोऽहं तव शोभने । ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्वांश्च धर्मं जानामि भामिनि

tāmuvāca sahasrākṣaḥ putro'haṁ tava śobhane brāhmaṇo vedavidvāṁśca dharmaṁ jānāmi bhāmini

The thousand-eyed one said to her: 'I am your son, O lovely one; a brahmin, learned in the Veda, and I know dharma, O lady.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.26.12)

तपसस्तव साहाय्यं करिष्ये नात्र संशयः । शुश्रूषति स तां देवीं मातरं तपसान्विताम्

tapasastava sāhāyyaṁ kariṣye nātra saṁśayaḥ śuśrūṣati sa tāṁ devīṁ mātaraṁ tapasānvitām

'I shall assist you in your austerity, no doubt of it.' He served that goddess-like mother, joined with austerity—

Verse 13 (padma.2.26.13)

तमिंद्रं सा न जानाति आगतं दुष्टकारिणम् । धर्मपुत्रं विजानाति शुश्रूषंतं दिने दिने

tamiṁdraṁ sā na jānāti āgataṁ duṣṭakāriṇam dharmaputraṁ vijānāti śuśrūṣaṁtaṁ dine dine

—she did not recognize that Indra, having come with evil intent; she took him for a righteous son, serving her day after day.

Verse 14 (padma.2.26.14)

अंगं संवाहयेद्देव्याः पादौ प्रक्षालयेत्ततः । पत्रं मूलं फलं तत्र वल्कलाजिनमेव च

aṁgaṁ saṁvāhayeddevyāḥ pādau prakṣālayettataḥ patraṁ mūlaṁ phalaṁ tatra valkalājinameva ca

He would massage the goddess-like lady's limbs and then wash her feet; leaves, roots, fruit, and bark-garments and antelope-skins there—

Verse 15 (padma.2.26.15)

ददात्येवं स धर्मात्मा तस्यै दित्यै सदैव हि । भक्त्या संतोषिता तस्य संतुष्टा तमभाषत

dadātyevaṁ sa dharmātmā tasyai dityai sadaiva hi bhaktyā saṁtoṣitā tasya saṁtuṣṭā tamabhāṣata

—that righteous soul ever gave to Diti indeed; pleased by his devotion, satisfied, she said to him:

Verse 16 (padma.2.26.16)

पुत्रे जाते महापुण्ये इंद्रे च निहते सति । कुरु राज्यं महाभाग पुत्रेण मम दैवकम्

putre jāte mahāpuṇye iṁdre ca nihate sati kuru rājyaṁ mahābhāga putreṇa mama daivakam

'When this greatly meritorious son is born, and Indra has been struck down, rule the divine kingdom, O greatly fortunate one, together with my son.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.26.17)

एवमस्तु महाभागे ते प्रसादाद्भविष्यति । तस्याश्चैवांतरं प्रेप्सुरभवत्पाकशासनः

evamastu mahābhāge te prasādādbhaviṣyati tasyāścaivāṁtaraṁ prepsurabhavatpākaśāsanaḥ

'So be it, O greatly fortunate one; by your grace it shall come to pass.' And Pakashasana, seeking only to catch her off guard, continued to serve her.

Verse 18 (padma.2.26.18)

ऊने वर्षशते चास्या ददर्शांतरमच्युतः । अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं दितिः शयनमाविशत्

ūne varṣaśate cāsyā dadarśāṁtaramacyutaḥ akṛtvā pādayoḥ śaucaṁ ditiḥ śayanamāviśat

With her hundred years still short of completion, that unfailing one found his opening: Diti, without washing her feet, went to lie down—

Verse 19 (padma.2.26.19)

शय्यांते सा शिरः कृत्वा मुक्तकेशातिविह्वला । निद्रामाहारयामास तस्याः कुक्षिं प्रविश्य ह

śayyāṁte sā śiraḥ kṛtvā muktakeśātivihvalā nidrāmāhārayāmāsa tasyāḥ kukṣiṁ praviśya ha

—laying her head at the edge of the bed, her hair undone, utterly overcome, she fell into sleep; entering into her very womb—

Verse 20 (padma.2.26.20)

वज्रपाणिस्ततो गर्भं सप्तधा तं न्यकृंतत । वज्रेण तीक्ष्णधारेण रुरोद उदरे स्थितः

vajrapāṇistato garbhaṁ saptadhā taṁ nyakṛṁtata vajreṇa tīkṣṇadhāreṇa ruroda udare sthitaḥ

—the wielder of the thunderbolt then cut that embryo into seven pieces with his sharp-edged thunderbolt; established in the womb, it wept.

Verse 21 (padma.2.26.21)

स गर्भस्तत्र विप्रेंद्रा इंद्रहस्तगतेन वै । रोदमानं महागर्भं तमुवाच पुनः पुनः

sa garbhastatra vipreṁdrā iṁdrahastagatena vai rodamānaṁ mahāgarbhaṁ tamuvāca punaḥ punaḥ

That embryo, O foremost of brahmins, in Indra's very hand, weeping — to that great embryo he spoke again and again:

Verse 22 (padma.2.26.22)

शतक्रतुर्महातेजा मा रोदीरित्यभाषत । सप्तधा कृतवाञ्छक्रस्तं गर्भं दितिजं पुनः

śatakraturmahātejā mā rodīrityabhāṣata saptadhā kṛtavāñchakrastaṁ garbhaṁ ditijaṁ punaḥ

—Shatakratu, of great splendor, said: 'Do not weep!' Shakra had cut that embryo, born of Diti, into seven pieces—

Verse 23 (padma.2.26.23)

एकैकं सप्तधा च्छित्त्वा रुदमानं स देवराट् । एवं वै मरुतो जातास्ते तु देवा महौजसः

ekaikaṁ saptadhā cchittvā rudamānaṁ sa devarāṭ evaṁ vai maruto jātāste tu devā mahaujasaḥ

—cutting each single piece into seven again as it wept, that king of the gods; and thus indeed were the Maruts born, those mighty gods.

Verse 24 (padma.2.26.24)

यथा इंद्रेण ते प्रोक्ता बभूवुर्नामभिस्ततः । अतिवीर्य महाकायास्तीव्र तेजः पराक्रमाः

yathā iṁdreṇa te proktā babhūvurnāmabhistataḥ ativīrya mahākāyāstīvra tejaḥ parākramāḥ

Just as Indra had spoken to them, 'do not weep,' from that they came to be named Marut; of surpassing might, mighty of body, of fierce splendor and valor.

Verse 25 (padma.2.26.25)

एकोना वै बभूवुस्ते पंचाशन्मरुतस्ततः । मरुतो नाम ते ख्याता इंद्रमेव समाश्रिताः

ekonā vai babhūvuste paṁcāśanmarutastataḥ maruto nāma te khyātā iṁdrameva samāśritāḥ

They numbered one less than fifty, those Maruts thereafter; renowned by the name Maruts, they took refuge in Indra himself.

Verse 26 (padma.2.26.26)

भूतानामेव सर्वेषां रोचयंति गणं महत् । निकायेषु निकायेषु हरिः प्रादात्प्रजापतिः

bhūtānāmeva sarveṣāṁ rocayaṁti gaṇaṁ mahat nikāyeṣu nikāyeṣu hariḥ prādātprajāpatiḥ

They delight in the great host of all beings; in every realm, Hari, the Lord of creatures, granted them their place.

Verse 27 (padma.2.26.27)

क्रमशस्तानि राज्यानि पृथुपूर्वाणि तानि वै । स देवः पुरुषः कृष्णः सर्वव्यापी जगद्गुरुः

kramaśastāni rājyāni pṛthupūrvāṇi tāni vai sa devaḥ puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sarvavyāpī jagadguruḥ

In due order, those kingdoms, beginning with that of Prithu — that god, the Purusha, Krishna, all-pervading, the teacher of the world—

Verse 28 (padma.2.26.28)

तपोजिष्णुर्महातेजाः सर्व एकः प्रजापतिः । पर्जन्यः पावकः पुण्यः सर्वात्मा सर्व एव हि

tapojiṣṇurmahātejāḥ sarva ekaḥ prajāpatiḥ parjanyaḥ pāvakaḥ puṇyaḥ sarvātmā sarva eva hi

—triumphant through austerity, of great splendor, the one Lord of creatures of all; the rain-cloud, the purifying fire, the meritorious one, the Self of all, indeed all things themselves.

Verse 29 (padma.2.26.29)

तस्य सर्वमिदं पुण्यं जगत्स्थावरजंगमम् । भूतसर्गमिमं सम्यग्जानतो द्विजसत्तम

tasya sarvamidaṁ puṇyaṁ jagatsthāvarajaṁgamam bhūtasargamimaṁ samyagjānato dvijasattama

All this meritorious universe, moving and unmoving, is his; for one who truly understands this creation of beings, O worthy brahmin—

Verse 30 (padma.2.26.30)

नावृत्तिभयमस्तीह परलोकभयं कुतः । इमां सृष्टिं महापुण्यां सर्वपापहरां शुभाम्

nāvṛttibhayamastīha paralokabhayaṁ kutaḥ imāṁ sṛṣṭiṁ mahāpuṇyāṁ sarvapāpaharāṁ śubhām

—there is no fear of return to this world; how then could there be fear of the world beyond? This greatly meritorious creation, remover of every sin, auspicious—

Verse 31 (padma.2.26.31)

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । स हि धन्यश्च पुण्यश्च स हि सत्यसमन्वितः

yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate sa hi dhanyaśca puṇyaśca sa hi satyasamanvitaḥ

—whatever man hears it with devotion is freed from every sin; he indeed is blessed and meritorious, he indeed is joined with truth.

Verse 32 (padma.2.26.32)

यः शृणोति इमां सृष्टिं स याति परमां गतिम् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

yaḥ śṛṇoti imāṁ sṛṣṭiṁ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever hears this account of creation goes to the supreme state; his soul purified of every sin, he goes to the world of Vishnu.