Chapter 46

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

हतेषु तेषु पुत्रेषु दितिः परम दुःखिता
मारीचम् काश्यपम् राम भर्तारम् इदम्
अब्रवीत्

hateṣu teṣu putreṣu ditiḥ parama duḥkhitā
mārīcam kāśyapam rāma bhartāram idam
abravīt

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | teṣu putreṣu hateṣu: those, sons, while being killed | ditiḥ parama duḥkhitā: Diti, is highly, anguished | bhartāram mārīcam kāśyapam: to husband, son of Mareechi, to sage Kaashyapa | idam abravīt: this, said. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, Lady Diti was highly anguished for those sons that are killed and said this to her husband, Sage Kashyapa, the son of Sage Maareechi." Thus Vishvamitra continued narration. [1-46-1]

VERSE 2

हत पुत्रा अस्मि भगवन् तव पुत्रैः महाबलैः
शक्र हन्तारम् इच्छामि पुत्रम्
दीर्घ तपो अर्जितम्

hata putrā asmi bhagavan tava putraiḥ mahābalaiḥ
śakra hantāram icchāmi putram
dīrgha tapo arjitam

SYNONYMS

bhagavan: oh, god | mahā balaiḥ: great mighty ones | tava putraiḥ: by your, sons | hata putrā asmi = killed, sons, ī am: my sons are killed | śakra hantāram: Indra, exterminator of | dīrgha tapoḥ jitam: by sustained, penance, one who can be achievable | putram: son | icchāmi = ī viś: to bear. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, god, I am bereaved of my sons who are killed by your great mighty sons, the sons of your second wife Aditi, as such I wish to bear a son, who is achievable by sustained penance, for he shall be the exterminator of Indra. [1-46-2]

VERSE 3

सा अहम् तपः चरिष्यामि गर्भम् मे दातुम् अर्हसि
ईश्वरम् शक्र हन्तारम् त्वम्
अनुज्ञातुम् अर्हसि

sā aham tapaḥ cariṣyāmi garbham me dātum arhasi
īśvaram śakra hantāram tvam
anujñātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

sā aham = suc as ī am: such a bereaved mother | tapaḥ cariṣyāmi: asceticism, I wish to undertake | anujñātum [dātum] arhasi: permission, to [to accord,] apt of you | tvam: you | īśvaram: who shall be a ruler of worlds | śakra hantāram = vho śall be: Indra, exterminator of | garbham me dātum arhasi: pregnancy, to me, to accord, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Such a bereaved mother as I am, I wish to undertake asceticism for a son who shall become an exterminator of Indra, and who shall be the ruler of worlds. As such, it will be apt of you to permit me for asceticism, and further it will be apt of you to accord me pregnancy with such a son.' Thus Diti spoke to her husband Kaashyapa. [1-46-3]

PURPORT

A sage's wife requires permission of her husband if she wishes to undertake an individual asceticism, because she will be receiving her own share of merit from her sage-husband's penances and practises, as he is her life-mate.
VERSE 4

तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा मारीचः काश्यपः तदा
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा दितिम् परम
दुःखिताम्

tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā mārīcaḥ kāśyapaḥ tadā
pratyuvāca mahātejā ditim parama
duḥkhitām

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | mārīcaḥ: son of Sage Mareechi | mahā tejā: great, resplendent sage | kāśyapaḥ: Kaashyapa | tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā = of her, that, sentence: request, on hearing | parama duḥkhitām ditim: to deeply, mournful, to Diti | prati uvāca: in reply, said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing her request the great resplendent sage Kaashyapa, the son of Sage Mareechi, replied Diti, who is deeply mournful. [1-46-4]

VERSE 5

एवम् भवतु भद्रम् ते शुचिः भव तपोधने
जनयिष्यसि पुत्रम् त्वम् शक्र
हन्तारम् आहवे

evam bhavatu bhadram te śuciḥ bhava tapodhane
janayiṣyasi putram tvam śakra
hantāram āhave

SYNONYMS

tapaḥ dhane = oh, ascetically, vealthy one: Lady Diti | evam bhavatu: so, be it | te bhadram: you, be blest | śuciḥ bhava: purity [propriety,] you become [abide by] | tvam: you | āhave śakra hantāram: in war, Indra's, exterminator | putram: son | janayiṣyasi: you will be delivering. |

TRANSLATION

" 'So be it... oh, ascetically wealthy lady, you be blest, if you abide by the propriety of the practises of asceticism, then you will be delivering a son who can become an exterminator of Indra in war. [1-46-5]

VERSE 6

पूर्णे वर्ष सहस्रे तु शुचिः यदि भविष्यसि
पुत्रम् त्रैलोक्य हन्तारम् मत्तः
त्वम् जनयिष्यसि

pūrṇe varṣa sahasre tu śuciḥ yadi bhaviṣyasi
putram trailokya hantāram mattaḥ
tvam janayiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

tvam śuciḥ bhaviṣyasi yadi: you, pure [punctilious,] becomes, if | varṣa sahasre pūrṇe tu: years, thousand, on completing, but | mattaḥ: from me [by my grace] | trai lokya hantāram [bhartāram]: three worlds, exterminator [husbander] | putram: son | janayiṣyasi: you can deliver. |

TRANSLATION

" 'If you can complete a thousand years of asceticism punctiliously, by my grace you can deliver a son who can be a husbander of three worlds.' Thus Sage Kaashyapa advised his wife Diti. [1-46-6]

PURPORT

In some other versions the word trailokya hantaaram is carried forward from earlier verses of Diti, into the speech of Sage Kaashyapa also. Some have it as trailokya bhartaaram 'a husbander of three worlds...' Diti may have desired for a 'killer.' But Kashyapa, as a father of both gods and demons, cannot term the issuing son as an exterminator of three worlds, because the three worlds are in vogue at Kaashyapa's grace. Some attach this adjective to Indra but not to the forthcoming son of Diti.
VERSE 7

एवम् उक्त्वा महा तेजाः पाणिना स ममार्ज ताम्
तम् आलभ्य ततः स्वस्ति इति उक्त्वा
तपसे ययौ

evam uktvā mahā tejāḥ pāṇinā sa mamārja tām
tam ālabhya tataḥ svasti iti uktvā
tapase yayau

SYNONYMS

mahā tejāḥ: great resplendent [sage] | saḥ: he, Kaashyapa | evam uktvā: thus, saying | tām pāṇinā mamārja = her, vith hand, viped: patted | tam ālabhya tataḥ: her, on touching [her,] then | svasti iti uktvā: be blest, thus, on saying | [saḥ: he, Kaashyapa] | tapase yayau: for ascetic practises, departed. |

TRANSLATION

"Saying thus that great resplendent sage patted her, and then on his touching her she is consecrated, and then that sage Kaashyapa departed for his ascetic practises, saying 'be blest.' [1-46-7]

VERSE 8

गते तस्मिन् नरश्रेष्ठ दितिः परम हर्षिता
कुशप्लवम् सामासाद्य तपः तेपे
सुदारुणम्

gate tasmin naraśreṣṭha ditiḥ parama harṣitā
kuśaplavam sāmāsādya tapaḥ tepe
sudāruṇam

SYNONYMS

naraśreṣṭha: oh, best one among men, Rama | tasmin gate sati: he [Kashyapa] | ditiḥ parama harṣitā: Diti, is highly, elated | kuśaplavam sam āsādya: [to a sacred place called] Kushaplava, on reaching | su dāruṇam tapaḥ tepe: highly, rigorous, asceticism, she practised. |

TRANSLATION

"On the exit of Sage Kaashyapa, oh, best one among men Rama, highly elated Diti reached the sacred place called Kushaplava, on which the present City of Vishala is now standing, and practised a highly rigorous asceticism. [1-46-8]

VERSE 9

तपः तस्याम् हि कुर्वत्याम् परिचर्याम् चकार ह
सहस्राक्षो नरश्रेष्ठ परया
गुण संपदा

tapaḥ tasyām hi kurvatyām paricaryām cakāra ha
sahasrākṣo naraśreṣṭha parayā
guṇa saṃpadā

SYNONYMS

nara śreṣṭha: oh, best among men Rama | tasyām tapaḥ kurvatyām [carantyām] hi: of her, asceticism, while practising, truly | sahasrākṣaḥ = ṭhousand: eyed god, - Indra | parayā guṇa sampadā: with surpassing, veracities, abundance with | paricaryām cakāra ha: services, rendered, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"While she is truly practising asceticism, oh, the best among men Rama, that Thousand-eyed god Indra has indeed rendered services with his abundant and surpassing veracities to her, who is none other than his maternal-aunt. [1-46-9]

VERSE 10

अग्निम् कुशान् काष्ठम् अपः फलम् मूलम् तथैव च
न्यवेदयत् सहस्राक्षो यच्
च अन्यत् अपि कान्क्षितम्

agnim kuśān kāṣṭham apaḥ phalam mūlam tathaiva ca
nyavedayat sahasrākṣo yac
ca anyat api kānkṣitam

SYNONYMS

sahasra akṣaḥ: Thousand, eyed god, Indra | agnim kuśān kāṣṭham apaḥ: fire, Kusha grass, firewood, water | phalam tathaiva ca mūlam: fruits, like that, also, tubers | kānkṣitam anyat = [śe] vanted: required, other [items] | yat ca api: whatever, also, even | nyavedayat = he offered: made available. |

TRANSLATION

"The Thousand-eyed god Indra made available fire, firewood, water, the sacred Kusha grass, fruits and like that tubers also, and whatever other items she required in her ascetic practise. [1-46-10]

VERSE 11

गात्र संवाहनैः चैव श्रम अपनयनैः तथा
शक्रः सर्वेषु कालेषु दितिम्
परिचचार ह

gātra saṃvāhanaiḥ caiva śrama apanayanaiḥ tathā
śakraḥ sarveṣu kāleṣu ditim
paricacāra ha

SYNONYMS

śakraḥ: Indra | gātra samvahanaiḥ ca eva: limbs [body,] massages, also, thus | tathā: likewise | śrama apa nayanaiḥ = [bodily] strain, avay, sending: by removing | sarveṣu kāleṣu: in all, times [all the time] | ditim paricacāra ha: to Diti, served, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"All the time Indra indeed served Diti by massaging her body, and other means of removing her bodily strain resulting from her arduous practises. [1-46-11]

VERSE 12

पूर्णे वर्ष सहस्रे दश ऊने रघुनंदन
दितिः परम संहृष्टा सहस्राक्षम्
अथ अब्रवीत्

pūrṇe varṣa sahasre daśa ūne raghunaṃdana
ditiḥ parama saṃhṛṣṭā sahasrākṣam
atha abravīt

SYNONYMS

raghu nandana: oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu | atha: then | varṣa sahasre pūrṇe: years, thousands, to complete | daś ūne = ten, less: less than ten years - 999 years | ditiḥ parama samhṛṣṭā: Diti, highly, rejoiced | sahasra akṣam abravīt: to Thousand-eyed god, Indra, spoke to. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, the descendent of Raghu, when ten years are less to complete the thousand years span of her ascetics, Diti is highly rejoiced as her ambition is going to fructify in just ten more years, and then she spoke to the Thousand-eyed god, Indra. [1-46-12]

VERSE 13

तपः चरन्त्या वर्षाणि दश वीर्यवताम् वर
अवशिष्टानि भद्रम् ते भ्रातरम्
द्रक्ष्यसे ततः

tapaḥ carantyā varṣāṇi daśa vīryavatām vara
avaśiṣṭāni bhadram te bhrātaram
drakṣyase tataḥ

SYNONYMS

vīryavatām vara = oh, among valiant ones, best one: oh, Indra | tapaḥ carantyā: asceticism, to me who am practising | daśa varṣāṇi avaśiṣṭāni: ten, years, are remaining | tataḥ bhrātaram drakṣyase: then, brother, you can see | te bhadram: you be, safe. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, best one among the valiant ones, Indra, to me who am practising asceticism ten years are remaining to complete, then you can see your brother, you be safe. [1-46-13]

VERSE 14

यम् अहम् त्वत् कृते पुत्र तम् आधास्ये जय उत्सुकम्
त्रैलोक्य विजयम् पुत्र सह
भोक्ष्यसि विज्वरः

yam aham tvat kṛte putra tam ādhāsye jaya utsukam
trailokya vijayam putra saha
bhokṣyasi vijvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

putra = oh, son: Indra | yam: whom | tvat kṛte: for your, reason | jaya utsukam: in victory [to conquer you,] enthusiastic one | tam aham ādhāsye: him, I am, bringing up | putra: oh, son, Indra | vi jvara: without, febrility [of enemies] | trai lokya vijayam: three, worlds, victory on | saha bhokṣyasi: with [him,] you can enjoy, |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, son Indra, whom I am bringing up for your reason, I will bring him up as a victory-enthusiast, and oh, son, Indra, along with him conquering the three worlds you can enjoy them, without febrility from your enemies. " 'Oh, son Indra, whom I am now bringing up, will be enthusiastic in conquering you, but somehow I will manage him by telling that you are after all his brother, and no harm shall be done to you, and oh, son Indra, if you join him you will get rid of your febrility, caused by his emergence, and then you two can conquer all the three worlds. [1-46-14]

VERSE 15

याचितेन सुरश्रेष्ट पित्रा तव माहात्मना
वरो वर्ष सस्र अन्ते मम दत्तः
सुतम् प्रति

yācitena suraśreṣṭa pitrā tava māhātmanā
varo varṣa sasra ante mama dattaḥ
sutam prati

SYNONYMS

sura śreṣṭa: oh, best one among gods | yācitena: on my prayer | māha ātmanā tava pitrā: from high-souled one, by your, father- Kaashyapa | varṣa sasra ante: years, thousand, at the end of | mama sutam prati: to me, son, towards [for a son] | varaḥ dattaḥ: boon, is bestowed. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, best one among gods, Indra, on my prayer your high-souled father Sage Kaashyapa bestowed this boon on me for a son, which materialises at the end of thousand years, and only ten more years are to slip by. [1-46-15]

VERSE 16

इति उक्त्वा च दितिः तत्र प्राप्ते मध्यन्दिन ईश्वरे
निद्रया पहृता देवी पादौ
कृत्वाथ शीर्षतः

iti uktvā ca ditiḥ tatra prāpte madhyandina īśvare
nidrayā pahṛtā devī pādau
kṛtvātha śīrṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

ditiḥ: Diti | iti uktvā: thus, saying | dina īśvaraḥ = day's, lord: Sun | [ākāśa] madhyam prāpte = [sky,] in middle, on reacing: at midday | devī: that lady | atha: then | pādau śīrṣataḥ kṛtvā: two feet, headward, on keeping | tatra: there in that matter of asceticism | nidraya apahṛtā: by sleep, stolen over. |

TRANSLATION

"When Diti was saying thus, the noontime sun was reigning high that lady is stolen over by sleep keeping her feet headward. [1-46-16]

PURPORT

This 'keeping feet headward' is variously inferred. While sitting she leaned on her knees and her braid touched feet, thus she became impious. She slept with her head neither towards east nor to south. The ancient cots in India used to have head-side and feet-side finishing. Then she placed head at feet-side and feet at head-side. Even if a cot is not there, though slept on ground, the head shall be positioned eastward or southward, but not to north or west. Finally, she slept at noontime, and for a person under a vow noontime sleep is prohibitive. anena vratasthaanaam divaa svaapaH paada sthaane shiraH sthaapanam ca ashucikaram iti suucitam - dk Hence her meticulousness is defeated.
VERSE 17

दृष्ट्वा ताम् अशुचिम् शक्रः पादयोः कृत मूर्धजाम्
शिरः स्थाने कृतौ पादौ जहास
च मुमोद च

dṛṣṭvā tām aśucim śakraḥ pādayoḥ kṛta mūrdhajām
śiraḥ sthāne kṛtau pādau jahāsa
ca mumoda ca

SYNONYMS

śakraḥ: Indra | pādayoḥ kṛta: at feet-side, placing | mūrdha jām = from head, emerging ones: head-hair, braid - braid resting on feet | a śucim: not, pious one | tām dṛṣṭvā: her [Diti,] on observing | śiraḥ sthāne kṛtau pādau: head, at the place of, placed, feet | jahāsa ca mumoda ca: laughed, also, gladdened, also. |

TRANSLATION

"On observing her who has become impious by placing her head at feet-side and braid falling on feet, Indra is gladdened and laughed at her failed asceticism. [1-46-17]

VERSE 18

तस्याः शरीर विवरम् प्रविवेश पुरंदरः
गर्भम् च सप्तधा राम चिच्छेद
परम आत्मवान्

tasyāḥ śarīra vivaram praviveśa puraṃdaraḥ
garbham ca saptadhā rāma ciccheda
parama ātmavān

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh Rama | purandaraḥ = enemy: fastnesses, destroyer - Indra | tasyāḥ śarīra vivaram: of her [Diti's,] body's, [vaginal] aperture | praviveśa ca: entered, also | parama ātmavān: highly, courageous one | garbham saptadhā ciccheda: womb [foetus,] into seven ways [seven fragments,] rent asunder. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, , being a highly courageous one, Indra the destroyer of enemy fastnesses, entered the body of Diti through her vaginal aperture and rent her foetus asunder into seven fragments. [1-46-18]

VERSE 19

भिद्यमानः ततो गर्भो वज्रेण शत पर्वणा
रुरोद सुस्वरम् राम ततो दितिः
अबुध्यत

bhidyamānaḥ tato garbho vajreṇa śata parvaṇā
ruroda susvaram rāma tato ditiḥ
abudhyata

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | tataḥ: then | śata parvaṇā: which has hundred, cutting edges | vajreṇa: with such Thunderbolt | bhidyamānaḥ garbhaḥ: being sliced, womb [foetus] | su svaram = in loud, voiced: clamorously | ruroda: wailed | tataḥ ditiḥ abudhyata: then, Diti, is awakened. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, then that foetus wailed clamorously while being sliced with Thunderbolt that has hundred cutting edges, and then Diti woke up. [1-46-19]

VERSE 20

मा रुदो मा रुदः च इति गर्भम् शक्रो अभ्यभाषत
बिभेद च महातेजा रुदन्तम्
अपि वासवः

mā rudo mā rudaḥ ca iti garbham śakro abhyabhāṣata
bibheda ca mahātejā rudantam
api vāsavaḥ

SYNONYMS

mā rudaḥ mā rudaḥ: do not, scream, do not, scream | iti śakraḥ garbham abhi abhāṣata = thus, īndra, to foetus, said: coaxed | mahā tejā vāsavaḥ: great resplendent, Indra | rudantam api: wailing, even though [foetus is wailing] | bibheda ca: fragmented it, also. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Do not scream, do not scream...' thus Indra was coaxing the foetus, and even though that foetus is screaming piteously the great resplendent Indra has gone on fragmenting it. [1-46-20]

VERSE 21

न हन्तव्यम् न हन्तव्यम् इति एवम् दितिः अब्रवीत्
निष्पपात ततः शक्रो मातुर्
वचन गौरवात्

na hantavyam na hantavyam iti evam ditiḥ abravīt
niṣpapāta tataḥ śakro mātur
vacana gauravāt

SYNONYMS

ditiḥ: Diti | na hantavyam na hantavyam: not, killable, not killable | iti evam abravīt: thus, that way, spoke [raved] | tataḥ: then | śakraḥ: Indra | mātuḥ vacana gauravāt: on [step] mother's, words [entreaty,] owing honour to | niṣ papāta = out, fallen: fell out of womb. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Unkillable, unkillable is my foetus...' thus Diti raved in that way, and then Indra fell out of the womb honouring his stepmother's entreaty. [1-46-21]

VERSE 22

प्रांजलिः वज्र सहितो दितिम् शक्रो अभ्यभाषत
अशुचिः देवि सुप्ता असि पादयोः
कृत मूर्धजा

prāṃjaliḥ vajra sahito ditim śakro abhyabhāṣata
aśuciḥ devi suptā asi pādayoḥ
kṛta mūrdhajā

SYNONYMS

vajra sahitaḥ = ṭhunderbolt, along vith: blood-wet weapon still in hand | śakraḥ: Indra | pra anjaliḥ: humbly, adjoining palms | ditim abhyabhāṣata: to Diti, spoke | devi: oh, lady | pādayoḥ kṛta mūrdhajā: on feet, made [touching,] head-hair [braid] | a śuciḥ = not, pious: you became | [madhya āhne] suptā asi: [in midday] slept, you have. |

TRANSLATION

"Indra humbly folding his palms that are still handling his bloody Thunderbolt spoke to Diti, 'oh, lady, you have become impious when your braid touched your feet and when you have gone to sleep in midday, and you vow is thwarted.' [1-46-22]

VERSE 23

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे षट् चत्वारिन्शः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe ṣaṭ catvārinśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | tat antaram labdhvā: that, chance, on gaining | āhave śakra hantāram: in battle, Indra, [who can become] eliminator | saptadhā abhindam = in seven vays [seven fragments,] fragmented: the foetus | devi: oh, lady | me tat = my, that: deed | tvam kṣantum arhasi: you, to pardon, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby I gained a chance to eliminate him who can eliminate Indra in a battle. Hence I fragmented your foetus into seven fragments, and it will be apt of you to pardon me for that act of mine.' " So said Indra to lady Diti. Thus, Sage Vishvamitra continued narration about City of Vishaala. [1-46-23]