Diti's Lament for Her Slain Sons

Verse 1 (padma.2.6.1)

सूत उवाच- कश्यपस्य च भार्यान्या दनुर्नाम तपस्विनी । पुत्रशोकेन संतप्ता संप्राप्ता दितिमंदिरम्

sūta uvāca- kaśyapasya ca bhāryānyā danurnāma tapasvinī putraśokena saṁtaptā saṁprāptā ditimaṁdiram

Suta said: Another wife of Kashyapa, an ascetic named Danu, tormented by grief for her sons, came to Diti's dwelling.

Verse 2 (padma.2.6.2)

रोदमाना प्रणम्यैव पादपद्मयुगं तदा । दुःखेन महता प्राप्ता दितिस्तां प्रत्यबोधयत्

rodamānā praṇamyaiva pādapadmayugaṁ tadā duḥkhena mahatā prāptā ditistāṁ pratyabodhayat

Weeping, she then bowed at the pair of lotus feet; and Diti, seeing her arrive overwhelmed with great grief, spoke to console her—

Verse 3 (padma.2.6.3)

दितिरुवाच- तवैव हि महाभागे किमिदं रोदकारणम् । पुत्रिण्यश्चैकपुत्रेण लोके नार्यो भवंति वै

ditiruvāca- tavaiva hi mahābhāge kimidaṁ rodakāraṇam putriṇyaścaikaputreṇa loke nāryo bhavaṁti vai

Diti said: 'O greatly fortunate one, what is this cause of your weeping? In this world women are counted blessed with sons even by a single son—'

Verse 4 (padma.2.6.4)

भवती शतपुत्राणां गुणिनामपि भामिनि । माता त्वमसि कल्याणि शुंभादीनां महात्मनाम्

bhavatī śataputrāṇāṁ guṇināmapi bhāmini mātā tvamasi kalyāṇi śuṁbhādīnāṁ mahātmanām

—'yet you are the mother of a hundred virtuous sons, O lady; you are the mother of great souls like Shumbha, O auspicious one.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.6.5)

कस्माद्दुःखं त्वया प्राप्तमेतन्मे कारणं वद । हिरण्यकशिपू राजा हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः

kasmādduḥkhaṁ tvayā prāptametanme kāraṇaṁ vada hiraṇyakaśipū rājā hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ

'From what has this sorrow come to you? Tell me the reason. King Hiranyakashipu and the mighty Hiranyaksha—'

Verse 6 (padma.2.6.6)

यस्याः पुत्रौ महात्मानौ महाबलपराक्रमौ । कस्माद्दुःखं महज्जातं तस्माच्चैव सखे वद

yasyāḥ putrau mahātmānau mahābalaparākramau kasmādduḥkhaṁ mahajjātaṁ tasmāccaiva sakhe vada

—'whose two great-souled, mighty, valiant sons they were — from what has this great sorrow arisen? Tell me, friend—'

Verse 7 (padma.2.6.7)

आख्याहि कारणं सर्वं यस्माद्रोदिषि सांप्रतम् । एवमाभाष्य तां देवीं विरराम मनस्विनी

ākhyāhi kāraṇaṁ sarvaṁ yasmādrodiṣi sāṁpratam evamābhāṣya tāṁ devīṁ virarāma manasvinī

—'tell me the whole reason why you weep now.' Having spoken thus to that goddess, the resolute one fell silent.

Verse 8 (padma.2.6.8)

दनुरुवाच- पश्य पश्य महाभागे सपत्न्याश्च मनोरथम् । परिपूर्णं कृतं तेन देवदेवेन चक्रिणा

danuruvāca- paśya paśya mahābhāge sapatnyāśca manoratham paripūrṇaṁ kṛtaṁ tena devadevena cakriṇā

Danu said: 'Behold, behold, O greatly fortunate one — your co-wife's heart's desire has been fully accomplished by that discus-bearing god of gods.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.6.9)

यथापूर्वं वरो दत्तो ह्यदित्यै देवि विष्णुना । तथेदानीं च पुत्राय तस्या दत्तो वरो महान्

yathāpūrvaṁ varo datto hyadityai devi viṣṇunā tathedānīṁ ca putrāya tasyā datto varo mahān

'Just as a boon was formerly granted to Aditi by Vishnu, so too has a great boon now been given to her son.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.6.10)

कश्यपाद्विश्रुतो जातस्त्रैलोक्यपालकः सुतः । इंद्रत्वं तस्य वै दत्तं तव पुत्राद्विहृत्य च

kaśyapādviśruto jātastrailokyapālakaḥ sutaḥ iṁdratvaṁ tasya vai dattaṁ tava putrādvihṛtya ca

'A son, renowned as born of Kashyapa, guardian of the three worlds — the state of Indra has come to him, taken away from your own son.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.6.11)

मनोरथैस्तु संपूर्णा अदितिः सुखवर्द्धिनी । कनीयान्वसुदत्तश्च तस्याः पुत्रश्च संप्रति

manorathaistu saṁpūrṇā aditiḥ sukhavarddhinī kanīyānvasudattaśca tasyāḥ putraśca saṁprati

'Aditi, her desires now fulfilled, thrives in growing happiness; her youngest son, Vasudatta, now—'

Verse 12 (padma.2.6.12)

ऐंद्रं पदं सुदुष्प्राप्यं देवैः सार्द्धं भुनक्ति च । दितिरुवाच- कस्मात्पदात्परिभ्रष्टो मम पुत्रो महामतिः

aiṁdraṁ padaṁ suduṣprāpyaṁ devaiḥ sārddhaṁ bhunakti ca ditiruvāca- kasmātpadātparibhraṣṭo mama putro mahāmatiḥ

—'enjoys, together with the gods, that station of Indra so hard to attain.' Diti said: 'From what station has my great-minded son fallen?'

Verse 13 (padma.2.6.13)

अन्ये च दानवा दैत्यास्तेजोभ्रष्टाः कथं सखे । तस्य त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि विस्तरेण यशस्विनि

anye ca dānavā daityāstejobhraṣṭāḥ kathaṁ sakhe tasya tvaṁ kāraṇaṁ brūhi vistareṇa yaśasvini

'And how have the other danavas and daityas lost their splendor, friend? Tell me the reason for this in full, O renowned one.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.6.14)

तामाभाष्य दितिर्वाक्यं विरराम सुदुःखिता । दनुरुवाच- देवाश्च दानवाः सर्वे सक्रोधाः संगरं गताः

tāmābhāṣya ditirvākyaṁ virarāma suduḥkhitā danuruvāca- devāśca dānavāḥ sarve sakrodhāḥ saṁgaraṁ gatāḥ

Having spoken this word, Diti, deeply grieved, fell silent. Danu said: 'The gods and all the danavas, filled with wrath, went into battle—'

Verse 15 (padma.2.6.15)

तत्र युद्धं महज्जातं दैत्यसंक्षयकारकम् । देवैश्च विष्णुना युद्धे मम पुत्रा निपातिताः

tatra yuddhaṁ mahajjātaṁ daityasaṁkṣayakārakam devaiśca viṣṇunā yuddhe mama putrā nipātitāḥ

—'and there a great war arose, one that brought about the destruction of the daityas. In that battle with the gods and Vishnu, my own sons were struck down.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.6.16)

तथैव तव पुत्रास्ते देवदेवेन चक्रिणा । वने गतान्यथा सिंहो द्रावयेत्स्वेन तेजसा

tathaiva tava putrāste devadevena cakriṇā vane gatānyathā siṁho drāvayetsvena tejasā

'So too were your sons slain by that discus-bearing god of gods; just as a lion in the forest scatters other beasts by its own might—'

Verse 17 (padma.2.6.17)

तथा ते मामकाः पुत्रा निहताः शङ्खपाणिना । कालनेमिमुखं सैन्यं दुर्जयं ससुरासुरैः

tathā te māmakāḥ putrā nihatāḥ śaṁkhapāṇinā kālanemimukhaṁ sainyaṁ durjayaṁ sasurāsuraiḥ

—'so too were my sons slain by the conch-bearing one. The army led by Kalanemi, unconquerable even by gods and asuras—'

Verse 18 (padma.2.6.18)

नाशितं मर्दितं सर्वं द्रावितं विकलीकृतम् । स्वैरर्चिभिर्यथा वह्निस्तृणानि ज्वालयेद्वने

nāśitaṁ marditaṁ sarvaṁ drāvitaṁ vikalīkṛtam svairarcibhiryathā vahnistṛṇāni jvālayedvane

—'was utterly destroyed, crushed, scattered, and disabled; just as fire, with its own flames, burns up straw in the forest—'

Verse 19 (padma.2.6.19)

तथा दैत्यगणान्सर्वान्निर्दहत्येव केशवः । मम पुत्रा मृता देवि बहुशस्तव नंदनाः

tathā daityagaṇānsarvānnirdahatyeva keśavaḥ mama putrā mṛtā devi bahuśastava naṁdanāḥ

—'so did Keshava consume all the hosts of daityas utterly. My sons have died, O goddess, and yours too, in great number.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.6.20)

वह्निं प्राप्य यथा सर्वे शलभा यांति संक्षयम् । तथा ते दानवाः सर्वे हरिं प्राप्य क्षयं गताः

vahniṁ prāpya yathā sarve śalabhā yāṁti saṁkṣayam tathā te dānavāḥ sarve hariṁ prāpya kṣayaṁ gatāḥ

'Just as moths, drawing near a flame, all meet their destruction, so did all those danavas, drawing near Hari, meet their end.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.6.21)

एवमेतं हि वृत्तांतं दितिः शुश्राव दारुणम् । दितिरुवाच- वज्रपातोपमं भद्रे वदस्येवं कथं मम

evametaṁ hi vṛttāṁtaṁ ditiḥ śuśrāva dāruṇam ditiruvāca- vajrapātopamaṁ bhadre vadasyevaṁ kathaṁ mama

Thus did Diti hear this dreadful account. Diti said: 'This is like the fall of a thunderbolt — how can you speak so to me, O gracious one?'

Verse 22 (padma.2.6.22)

एवमाभाष्य तां देवी मूर्च्छिता निपपात ह । हा हा कष्टमिदं जातं बहुदुःखं प्रतापकम्

evamābhāṣya tāṁ devī mūrcchitā nipapāta ha hā hā kaṣṭamidaṁ jātaṁ bahuduḥkhaṁ pratāpakam

Having spoken thus, that goddess fell down in a swoon: 'Alas, alas! What great affliction has befallen me, what abundant, burning sorrow!'

Verse 23 (padma.2.6.23)

रुरोद करुणं साथ पुत्रशोकसुपीडिता । तां दृष्ट्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठ उवाच वचनं शुभम्

ruroda karuṇaṁ sātha putraśokasupīḍitā tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sa muniśreṣṭha uvāca vacanaṁ śubham

Sorely afflicted with grief for her sons, she wept most piteously. Seeing her, that foremost of sages spoke this auspicious word:

Verse 24 (padma.2.6.24)

मा रोदिषि च भद्रं ते नैवं शोचंति त्वद्विधाः । सत्ववंतो महाभागे लोभमोहेन वर्जिताः

mā rodiṣi ca bhadraṁ te naivaṁ śocaṁti tvadvidhāḥ satvavaṁto mahābhāge lobhamohena varjitāḥ

'Weep not, good fortune to you; those of true substance like yourself, free of greed and delusion, O greatly fortunate one, do not grieve so.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.6.25)

कस्य पुत्रा हि संसारे कस्य देवी सुबांधवाः । नास्तिकस्येह केनापि तत्सर्वं श्रूयतां प्रिये

kasya putrā hi saṁsāre kasya devī subāṁdhavāḥ nāstikasyeha kenāpi tatsarvaṁ śrūyatāṁ priye

'Whose, truly, are sons in this world, O goddess? Whose are true kinsmen? Even for one who denies this — hear all of it, my dear.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.6.26)

दक्षस्यापि सुता यूयं सुन्दर्यश्चैव मामकाः । भवतीनामहं भर्ता कामनापूरकः शुभे

dakṣasyāpi sutā yūyaṁ sundaryaścaiva māmakāḥ bhavatīnāmahaṁ bhartā kāmanāpūrakaḥ śubhe

'You are both daughters of Daksha, and my own beautiful wives; I am your husband, the fulfiller of your desires, O auspicious ones.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.6.27)

योजकः पालकश्चैव रक्षकोस्मि वरानने । कस्माद्वैरं कृतं क्रूरैरसुरैरजितात्मभिः

yojakaḥ pālakaścaiva rakṣakosmi varānane kasmādvairaṁ kṛtaṁ krūrairasurairajitātmabhiḥ

'I am your uniter, your protector, your guardian, O fair-faced one. Why then did the cruel, unrestrained asuras create this enmity?'

Verse 28 (padma.2.6.28)

तव पुत्रा महाभागे सत्यधर्मविवर्जिताः । तेन दोषेण ते सर्वे तव दोषेण वै शुभे

tava putrā mahābhāge satyadharmavivarjitāḥ tena doṣeṇa te sarve tava doṣeṇa vai śubhe

'Your sons, O greatly fortunate one, had abandoned truth and dharma; by that fault all of them — by that fault of yours too, O auspicious one—'

Verse 29 (padma.2.6.29)

निहता वासुदेवेन दैवतैस्तु निपातिताः । तस्माच्छोको न कर्तव्यः सत्यमोक्षविनाशनः

nihatā vāsudevena daivataistu nipātitāḥ tasmācchoko na kartavyaḥ satyamokṣavināśanaḥ

—'were slain by Vasudeva, struck down by the gods. Therefore grief should not be indulged; grief truly destroys truth and the path to liberation.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.6.30)

शोको हि नाशयेत्पुण्यं क्षयात्पुण्यस्य नश्यति । तस्माच्छोकं परित्यज विघ्नरूपं वरानने

śoko hi nāśayetpuṇyaṁ kṣayātpuṇyasya naśyati tasmācchokaṁ parityaja vighnarūpaṁ varānane

'Grief destroys merit; through the loss of merit one is ruined. Therefore abandon this grief, which takes the very form of an obstacle, O fair-faced one.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.6.31)

आत्मदोषप्रभावेण दानवा मरणं गताः । देवा निमित्तभूताश्च नाशिताः स्वेन कर्मणा

ātmadoṣaprabhāveṇa dānavā maraṇaṁ gatāḥ devā nimittabhūtāśca nāśitāḥ svena karmaṇā

'By the power of their own faults did the danavas meet death; the gods were merely the occasion — they were destroyed by their own deeds.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.6.32)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभागे समागच्छ सुखं प्रति । एवमुक्त्वा महायोगी तां प्रियां दुःखभागिनीम्

evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāge samāgaccha sukhaṁ prati evamuktvā mahāyogī tāṁ priyāṁ duḥkhabhāginīm

'Knowing this, O greatly fortunate one, turn back toward happiness.' Having spoken thus, that great yogi comforted his beloved wife, sharer in that sorrow.

Verse 33 (padma.2.6.33)

विषादाच्च निवृत्तोसौ विरराम महामतिः

viṣādācca nivṛttosau virarāma mahāmatiḥ

She turned back from her despair, and that great-minded sage fell silent.