In ancient times, Śuci, one of the daughters of Tāmrā, gave birth to many graceful birds—swans, cranes, kāraṇḍas, and waterfowl. All these are recognized as the daughters of Tāmrā. Now, let us turn our attention to Vinatā. From Vinatā were born Garuḍa, the mightiest among birds, and Aruṇa, the lord of the winged ones. Saudāminī, a maiden renowned in the sky, was also born to Vinatā. Aruṇa had two sons, Saṃpāti and Jaṭāyu. Saṃpāti’s son was Babhru, and another was Śīghraga, known far and wide. Jaṭāyu’s sons were Karṇikāra and Śatagāmī, both celebrated among birds, and their offspring and descendants multiplied beyond count. Surasā, in ancient times, brought forth a thousand serpents. Kadru, steadfast in her vows, also gave birth to a thousand serpents, each possessing many heads. Among these serpents, twenty-six are renowned as chiefs: Śeṣa, Vāsuki, Karkoṭa, Śaṃkha, Airāvata, and Kaṃbala; Dhanaṃjaya, Mahānīla, Padma, Aśvatara, Takṣaka, Elāpatra, Mahāpadma, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Balāhaka; Śaṃkhapāla, Mahāśaṃkha, Puṣpadaṃṣṭra with auspicious faces; Śaṃkharoma, Nahuṣa, Ramaṇa, and Paṇi; Kapila, Durmukha, Patanjali, and others. All these serpents had countless sons and grandsons. Most of those who had previously perished in the house of Janamejaya—the host of rakṣasas—were reborn through Sunaman’s anger. Many fanged creatures, jackals, crows, buffaloes, cows, and cow-maidens were destroyed by Bhimasena. Surabhi, by Kashyapa, gave birth to three kinds: a group of sages, a host of sages, and a gathering of apsarases. Similarly, Irā gave birth to many kinnaras and gandharvas, and to all the grasses, trees, creepers, and bushes of the earth. Khasā gave birth to yakṣas and rakṣasas by the crore, filling the world with Kashyapa’s descendants, numbering in the hundreds and thousands. O Bhishma, in this Manvantara, this creation is known as the Svārociṣa. During this time, Diti, who understood dharma, gave birth to forty-nine Maruts by Kashyapa, all beloved by the gods. Bhishma then asked, “How were the sons of Diti, the Maruts beloved of the gods, born? And why did they attain the highest friendship with the gods, though they were rivals?” Pulastya replied, “Long ago, during the war between gods and asuras, when Diti’s sons and grandsons were slain by Hari and the gods, Diti, overwhelmed by grief, journeyed to the highest earthly realm. At the sacred place of Pushkara, on the auspicious bank of the Sarasvati, she devoted herself to worshiping her husband and undertook severe austerities. Diti, mother of the Daityas, steadfast in her vows, subsisted on fruits and observed difficult disciplines such as Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa. For over a hundred years, troubled by age and sorrow, she persevered in her penance. At last, scorched by her austerity, she approached Vasiṣṭha and the other sages and asked, ‘Please tell me a vow that destroys grief for sons and brings good fortune in this world and the next.’ Vasiṣṭha and the others replied, ‘The Pūrṇimā vow of the full moon in Jyeṣṭha month, by whose grace one becomes free from grief for sons.’ Bhishma then said, ‘I wish to hear, O Brahman, the Pūrṇimā vow of Jyeṣṭha, by which Diti obtained forty-nine sons again.’ Pulastya explained, ‘The vow once described to Diti by Vasiṣṭha and the others, I shall now tell you in detail. In the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha, on the full moon, the observer of the vow should set up an unbroken pot filled with white rice. This pot should be adorned with various fruits and sugarcane sticks, covered with two white cloths, and anointed with white sandalwood. Arrange various foods along with gold as able, and place a copper vessel filled with jaggery atop it. Above that, in a lotus-shaped cavity, make an image of Brahma in gold; place Savitri, adorned with sugar, to its left. Offer fragrance and incense to both, and arrange singing and instrumental music. If these are lacking, perform as was done for the lotus by the Grandfather. Fashion a beautiful image called Brahma from jaggery, and worship the lotus-born one with white flowers, uncooked rice, and sesame seeds. Worship the feet for Brahma, the thighs for the giver of fortune, the knees for Virinchi, and the waist for Manmatha. For the one with a clear belly, worship the abdomen; for the tireless one, the chest of the creator; for the lotus-faced, the face; for the Veda-handed, the arms. Salute the all-pervading one and worship the lotus on the crown. Then, in the morning, offer that pot to a Brahmin. Feed the Brahmin with devotion, but do not eat salt yourself; with devotion, circumambulate and recite this mantra: ‘May the blessed Lord, the Grandfather of all worlds, be pleased here, who is called the joy within the hearts of all beings.’ By this procedure, perform everything month by month. The fasting person should worship the imperishable Brahma on the full moon. Eat a single fruit at night and sleep on the ground. Then, in the thirteenth month, offer a cow with ghee. Give a bed to Virinchi, furnished with all accessories; make an image of Brahma in gold and Savitri likewise in silver. Let the creator, whose essence is the lotus, obtain Savitri. Worship a twice-born with his wife, with devotion, using garments and ornaments. Give a cow and other gifts as able, saying, ‘May he be pleased.’ Perform a fire offering with white sesame seeds and recite the names of Brahma.’ Thus, by following this vow, Diti was freed from her grief and obtained forty-nine sons, the Maruts, who became dear to the gods.