A virtuous woman, it is said, should refrain from uttering inauspicious words and avoid excessive laughter. Her heart must remain ever devoted to reverent worship, always intent on fostering auspiciousness. She should bathe in water infused with all sacred herbs, keep a cheerful countenance, and dedicate herself to her husband’s welfare and happiness. Under no circumstances should she speak ill of her husband. One such woman, feeling the weight of age, lamented, “I am thin and weak, old age has overtaken me. My breasts have sagged, my face is wrinkled and fragile.” Yet, she resolved never to utter words of reproach, such as, “I have been treated thus by you. Farewell, I will depart.” When she spoke thus, her husband replied, “So be it.” There, before the eyes of all beings, she vanished, following the instructions given by her husband. Knowing the significance of her vow, Indra himself left the abode of the gods and came to Diti’s side, serving her with devotion. Yet, within, the lord of Paka was agitated, seeking a fault in Diti, though outwardly he appeared pleasant and spoke kindly. Acting as if unaware of his true purpose, Indra behaved virtuously. Thus, a hundred years passed, with only three days remaining for Diti’s vow to be fulfilled. At this time, Diti considered herself successful. Her mind was joyful and amazed. She lay down to rest, her feet unwashed, her hair unbound, overcome by the heaviness of sleep, her head to the north at midday. Seizing this opportunity, Indra, husband of Śacī, entered her womb. With his thunderbolt, Indra split the embryo within Diti into seven parts. From these, seven sons were born, shining with the radiance of the sun. When the children cried, Indra, enemy of the Dānavas, forbade them. Yet, as they continued to cry, Hari split each of them again into seven parts. Thus divided, they became forty-nine, and their cries intensified. Indra restrained them, saying, “Do not cry again and again.” Then, the slayer of Vṛtra pondered: “By whose act, by what greatness, have these children survived? Surely it is through the power of merit, the fruit of the full moon observance, or perhaps the worship of Brahma. Though struck by the thunderbolt, they did not perish. Since one became many, protected within the womb, they are indeed inviolable. Therefore, let them become gods.” Because they were told, “Do not cry,” yet cried upon their birth, Indra declared, “Let them be called Maruts by name, and let them enjoy happiness.” Diti, having pleased the lord of the gods, humbly said, “Forgive me. Following the treatise on purpose, I have committed this misdeed.” Indra, having made the host of Maruts equal with the gods, placed Diti and her sons in a celestial chariot and brought them to heaven. All those who received shares of the sacrifice became the Maruts. They did not join the Asuras and thus remained dear to the gods. Bhīṣma then addressed Pulastya: “O Brahman, you have described to me in detail the initial creation. Now tell me about the secondary creation and the rulers appointed in it.” Pulastya replied: “When Pṛthu was anointed as sovereign over all the earth, he appointed Soma as lord of plants, sacrifices, vows, and austerities. Varuṇa was made lord of the waters; Vaiśravaṇa, lord of wealth and kings; and the golden-wombed one, lord of stars, priests, trees, shrubs, and creepers. Viṣṇu was made lord of the suns, Agni lord of the Vasus and the worlds, Dakṣa lord of the progenitors, and Śakra lord of the Maruts. Prahlāda was made lord of the Daityas and Dānavas; Yama, lord of the ancestors; Śūlapāṇi, lord of Piśācas, Rākṣasas, animals, spirits, Yakṣas, and Vetālas. The snowy mountain was appointed lord of mountains, the ocean lord of rivers, and Citraratha lord of the Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, and Kinnaras. Vāsuki, of fierce strength, became lord of the Nāgas; Takṣaka, lord of the serpents; and Airāvata, named thus, lord of the elephants and guardian of the directions. Suparṇa was made lord of the birds, Uccaiḥśravas king of the horses, the lion lord of the beasts, the bull lord of the cows, and Plakṣa lord of all trees. The Grandfather first anointed these as lords, and then all the guardians of the directions. The eastern guardian he anointed as Suvarmāṇa and Arātiketu; Śaṃkhapada became lord of the south, Saketumanta lord of the west, and Bhuvanāṇḍagarbha lord of the worlds. Hiraṇyaromāṇa, son of the clouds, was made lord of the north. Even now, these guardians of the directions ever protect the earth. With these four, Pṛthu, the first king, was anointed on earth. When he departed, in the era called Cākṣuṣa, they made Vaivasvata king of the earth. When the Cākṣuṣa era ended and the Vaivasvata era began again, the son of the Sun, marked by auspicious signs, became lord of all moving and unmoving beings. Pulastya continued: “Hear, O descendant of the Kurus, about all the Manvantaras, the deeds of the Manus, the measure of the kalpa, and its creation in summary. With single-mindedness and a clear heart, listen, O joy of the Kurus: In the era of Svāyambhuva, the gods were called Yāmas. The seven ancient sages, remembered as Marīci and others, were present, as were Āgnīdhra, Āgnibāhu, Vibhu, and Savana. Jyotiṣmān, Dyutimān, Bhavya, Medhā, Medhātithi, and Vasu—these ten, descendants of Svāyambhuva Manu, increased his lineage. Having completed the account of the cosmic dissolution, they attained the supreme state. Thus the Svāyambhuva Manvantara has been described. Now comes the era of Svārociṣa. Svārociṣa had four illustrious sons: Nabhonabha, Prabhṛti, Bhāvana, and Kīrtivardhana.