Once, the sages and gods gathered and questioned the ancient origins of the demon king Vajrāṅga, wondering from whose lineage he arose and who his mighty son Tāraka was, the great oppressor of the gods. They turned to the wise one, asking him to recount the story of Guha’s birth and the reasons behind the creation and eventual slaying of that lord of demons. The story begins with Dakṣa, the mind-born son of Brahmā and lord of all creatures. Dakṣa had sixty daughters, as was heard from Vairiṇī. He gave ten of his daughters to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, and four to Ariṣṭanemi. Two daughters he gave to Bāhuka’s son, two to Aṅgiras, and two to the wise Kṛśāśva. Among these daughters, the most notable were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Viśvā, Ariṣṭā, Surasā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Tāmrā, Krodhavaśā, and Irā. Kadru and the sage Kadrū too were considered mothers of the world, and among cows, Surabhi was revered as a mother. From these noble mothers arose all beings, both moving and unmoving. From their lineages, the various classes of beings came forth. The gods, including Indra, Upendra, Pūṣan, and others, were considered children of Aditi, while Diti bore powerful beings such as Hiraṇyakaśipu. The Dānavas, another mighty race, were known as the sons of Danu, and Surabhi gave birth to the cows. Vinatā was the mother of birds, with Garuḍa as their chief, and Kadru gave birth to the serpents. Thus, from these mothers, countless creatures filled the worlds. Hiraṇyakaśipu, Diti’s son of immense might, conquered and defeated Indra, the lord of the three worlds and ruler of the immortals, seizing the kingdom for himself. But in time, Hiraṇyakaśipu and his kin were slain in battle by Viṣṇu, and the remaining Dānavas were destroyed by Indra. Grieving the loss of her sons, Diti approached her husband Kaśyapa and pleaded for a boon: to have another son, one of great strength. Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures, granted her wish and promised her a son who would be the slayer of Indra in battle. He told her, “O goddess, if you observe a vow of purity in mind for a thousand years, you shall obtain such a son.” Diti, determined, undertook the prescribed austerities. During this time, Indra, ever watchful and intent, served Diti faithfully, and she accepted his service. When only ten years remained of her thousand-year vow, Diti, pleased and steadfast, spoke to Indra: “O slayer of Vṛtra, know that I am close to completing my vow for a son. Your brother will soon be born, and together you will share this prosperity. Enjoy, dear child, the three worlds as you wish, now that their thorns are removed.” With these words, she, overcome by sleep, lay with her hair at Indra’s feet. Finding her unguarded and asleep, Indra seized the opportunity and entered her womb. With his thunderbolt, he split the embryo into seven parts, and then divided each part again. Out of anger, each of the seven parts was split yet again into seven, making forty-nine in all. Diti awoke and cried, “Do not, O Indra, destroy my offspring!” Indra emerged and stood before her, fearful and with joined palms, repeating the words his mother had once spoken: “Mother, you were absorbed in dreams, your hair pressed under your feet. With seven times seven blows, I have divided your embryo. I will grant your sons places in heaven, revered by the gods, for those who were slain by the thunderbolt fifty-four times.” Diti, thus addressed, replied, “So be it,” and with eyes dark as night, she again spoke to her husband, Kaśyapa: “Grant me, O lord of creatures, a son—powerful, conqueror of Indra—who cannot be slain by any weapon or missile of the gods dwelling in heaven.” Kaśyapa, seeing her deep grief, replied, “By performing austerities for ten thousand years, you shall obtain such a son. He will have limbs made of adamant, unbreakable and strong as iron, and will be named Vajrāṅga.” Receiving this boon, Diti went to the forest, where she performed severe penance for ten thousand years. At the end of her austerities, she gave birth to a son—unconquerable, invincible, and unassailable by any weapon. Immediately upon his birth, the boy was skilled in all weapons and missiles. With devotion, he asked his mother, “Mother, what shall I do?” Delighted, Diti spoke to her son, the lord of the Daityas: “Many of my sons have been slain by the thousand-eyed one, Indra. Go, avenge them and slay Indra.” Obedient to her command, the mighty Vajrāṅga ascended to heaven. There, he bound Indra with a noose of unfailing brilliance and brought him before his mother, as a tiger brings a small deer. At that moment, Brahmā and the great ascetic Kaśyapa arrived where mother and son stood, fearless. Seeing them, Brahmā and Kaśyapa addressed Vajrāṅga: “Release Indra, my son; what purpose is served by holding him? The killing of a respected one is called disgrace. Know that one who is released at our word is as good as dead. Released out of regard for another, he bears the burden of his enemies. Though alive, my child, he is dead day after day. For those who are under the sway of the great, there is no enmity with an enemy.” Hearing these words, Vajrāṅga bowed reverently and replied to the wise elders, honoring their counsel.