In ancient times, there arose many powerful beings from the lineage of Kaśyapa, each with their own destinies and stories. Among the Asuras, Ilvala, Namuci, Śvasṛpa, Ajana, Naraka, Kālanābha, and Saramāṇa were renowned. The Kālavīyas, celebrated for strengthening the Danu lineage, also emerged, and from Saṃhrāda the Daitya came the formidable Nivātakavacas. These Nivātakavacas were invulnerable to the gods, Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas alike. Yet, in battle, they were vanquished by Arjuna, who took refuge with Bharga. From the seed of Mārīca, Tāmrā gave birth to six daughters: Śukī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Sugrīvī, Gṛdhrikā, and Śuci. Each daughter became the mother of various creatures. Śukī, following righteousness, gave birth to parrots and owls; Śyenī produced hawks; Bhāsī gave birth to kites, and Kurarī brought forth her own kind. Gṛdhrī was the mother of vultures and pigeons, while Pārāvatī gave birth to doves and other birds. Haṃsī produced swans, cranes, and krauñcas, and Plavā gave birth to waterfowl. Sugrīvī gave birth to goats, horses, sheep, camels, and asses. Thus, the lineage of Tāmrā flourished. Now, hear of Vinatā. From her were born Garuḍa, the mighty lord of birds, and Aruṇa, foremost among fliers. Saudāmanī, a daughter renowned in the sky, was also born. Aruṇa’s sons were Sampāti and Jaṭāyu; Sampāti’s son was Babhrū, and among their kin was Śīghraga, famed among all. From Jaṭāyu came Karṇikāra and the renowned Śatagāmī; Sārasa, Rajjuvāla, and Bheruṇḍa were also his sons. Their descendants among birds became countless, with sons and grandsons multiplying through the ages. Surasā, in ancient times, gave birth to a thousand serpents. Kadrū, O virtuous one, bore a thousand serpents with a thousand heads; among these, twenty-six were renowned as leaders: Śeṣa, Vāsuki, Karkoṭa, Śaṅkha, Airāvata, Kambala, Dhanaṃjaya, Mahānīla, Padma, Aśvatara, Takṣaka, Elāpatra, Mahāpadma, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Balāhaka, Śaṅkhapāla, Mahāśaṅkha, Puṣpadaṃṣṭra, Śubhānana, Śaṅkuromā, Bahula, Vāmana, Pāṇina, Kapila, Durmukha, and Patañjali. Their descendants became innumerable, spreading far and wide. Most of them, long ago, were burned in the house of Janamejaya. Kadrū also gave birth to a host of demons, each bearing their own name, driven by wrath; Bhīmasena destroyed a multitude of those fanged ones. Similarly, Surabhi, steadfast in her vows, gave birth to the hosts of Rudras, as well as cows and buffaloes, from Kaśyapa. The sage begot the hosts of sages, and likewise the hosts of Apsarases. Ariṣṭā gave birth to many Kinnaras and Gandharvas. Irā gave birth to all grasses, trees, creepers, and shrubs; Viśvā produced Yakṣas and Rākṣasas by the millions. Then Diti, knowing righteousness, gave birth to forty-nine Maruts from Kaśyapa, all beloved of the immortals. Thus, the question arose: How were the sons of Diti, the Maruts, beloved of the gods, born? And how did they, though rivals of the gods, come to form the highest friendship with them? Long ago, during the battle between the gods and demons, when Hari had taken away the gods along with their sons and grandsons, the gods were afflicted by grief and sought refuge in the highest earthly realm. In the sacred field of Syamantapanchaka, on the auspicious bank of the Sarasvati, Diti, devoted to worship of her husband, undertook severe austerities. Steadfast in vows and in the form of a sage, she sustained herself on fruits and performed rigorous penances such as Chandrayana. For more than a hundred years, troubled by old age and sorrow, she endured. Scorched by austerity, she questioned Vasiṣṭha and others: “Tell me, O revered ones, a vow that destroys grief for sons and brings the fruit of good fortune in this world and the next.” Vasiṣṭha and the others replied, “The Madana-Dvādaśī vow, by whose power one becomes free from sorrow for sons.” Thus, the sages wished to hear about the Madana-Dvādaśī vow, by which Diti regained her forty-nine sons. What was formerly told by Vasiṣṭha and others to Diti, the excellent vow, hear now in detail. In the month of Caitra, on the bright fortnight, on the twelfth day, one who observes the vow should place a spotless pot filled with white rice. That pot should be adorned with various fruits, a sugarcane stalk, covered with a pair of white cloths, and smeared with white sandalwood. It should be accompanied by various foods and, according to one’s ability, gold; a copper vessel filled with jaggery should be placed on top. Above that, one should place a banana leaf, and to its left, an image of Rati made of sugar, as desired. Then, one should offer fragrance and incense, arrange music and singing; if these are lacking, one should recite stories of Kama and Keshava. Worship Hari by the name of Kama, bathe him with scented water, and offer white flowers, rice grains, and sesame seeds to Madhusudana. For Kama, worship the feet; for the giver of good fortune, the thighs; for Smara, again for Manmatha, the hips. For the one with a pure belly, the abdomen; for Ananga, the chest of Hari; for the lotus-faced, the face; for the five-arrowed, the arms. Salutations to the all-pervading one; worship the head as Keshava. Then, in the morning, offer that pot to a Brahmin. One should feed Brahmins with devotion, and oneself eat without salt; then give the prescribed donation, reciting the sacred mantra. Thus, the vow was fulfilled, and Diti’s grief was lifted, restoring her sons to her and bringing the fruits of good fortune in both worlds.