एवमुक्त्वाथ ते सर्वे मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
Having thus spoken, all those sages, steadfast in their vows,
मृकण्डोऽपि सपुत्रश्च तस्मिन्स्थाने पितामहम्
And Mṛkaṇḍu, together with his son, remained at that place of the Grandsire.
ततश्चाऽऽराधयामास दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः
Then, day and night without fatigue, he worshipped.
पावनं सर्वजंतूनां बालानां रोगनाशनम्
That which is pure, the destroyer of diseases in all beings, especially in children.
ज्येष्ठे ज्येष्ठासु यो बालस्तत्र स्नानं समाचरेत्
In the month of Jyeshtha, among the eldest, the child should perform bathing there.
ग्रहभूतपिशाचानां शाकिनीनां विशेषतः
Especially for protection from planets, spirits, ghosts, and witches.
स्वामिद्रोहकृतात्पापान्निर्मुक्तो यत्र लक्ष्मणः
There, O Lakshmana, one is freed from the sin of betraying one's master.
कथं तत्र पुरा शक्रः स्वामिद्रोहसमुद्भवात्
How, in former times, did Indra incur that sin arising from betrayal of his master?
कस्माद्दितेर्महेन्द्रेण कृतं कृत्यं तथाविधम्
For what reason did Mahendra perform such an act against Diti?
स च संजनयामास पचाशत्कन्यकाः शुभाः
And he begot fifty virtuous daughters.
ददौ च दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश
He gave ten to Dharma, and thirteen to Kashyapa.
अदितिश्च दितिश्चैव द्वे भार्ये मुख्यतां गते
Aditi and Diti became the two chief wives.
ततः स जनयामास देवाञ्च्छक्रपुरःसरान्
Then he begot the gods, with Shakra at their head.
तेषां त्रैलोक्यराज्यार्थं मिथो जज्ञे महाहवः
For the sovereignty of the three worlds, a great battle arose among them.
ततः शोकपरा चक्रे दितिर्व्रतमनुत्तमम्
Then Diti, overwhelmed by grief, undertook an excellent vow.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तस्यास्तुष्टो महेश्वरः ६.२२.
At the end of a thousand years, Maheshvara was pleased with her.
साऽब्रवीद्यदि मे तुष्टस्त्वं देव शशिशेखर यज्ञभागप्रभोक्तारं देवानां दर्पनाशनम्
She said, 'If you are pleased with me, O god crowned with the moon, grant me a son who will seize the share of the sacrifice, destroy the pride of the gods—'
अवध्यं संगरे पूर्वैः सर्वैदेवैः सवासवैः
—'and who cannot be slain in battle by all the former gods together with their chiefs.'
दितिश्चैवाऽदधाद्गर्भं कश्यपान्मुनिपुंगवात् वदतो मुनिमुख्यस्य नारदस्य महात्मनः
And Diti conceived a child by Kashyapa, the foremost sage, as the great-souled Narada was speaking.
ततो दुष्टां मतिं कृत्वा तस्य गर्भस्य नाशने
Then, forming an evil intention, she sought to destroy that embryo.
छिद्रमन्वेषमाणस्तु सुसूक्ष्ममपि च द्विजाः
O twice-born, seeking even the smallest opening—
ततश्च दशमे मासि संप्राप्ते प्रसवोद्भवे
Then, when the tenth month had arrived and birth was imminent—
निद्रावशं तु संप्राप्ता विसंज्ञा समपद्यत
She, overcome by sleep, fell into unconsciousness.
तां विसंज्ञामथो वीक्ष्य त्यक्त्वा पादौ शतक्रतुः तेनाऽसौ सप्तधा चके गर्भं शस्त्रेण देवपः
Seeing her thus insensible, Śatakratu abandoned her feet; with his weapon, the lord of the gods divided the embryo into seven parts.
अथाऽपश्यत्क्षणात्सप्त वालकान्पूर्णविग्रहान्
Then, in an instant, he saw seven boys, each with a complete form.
जाता एकोनपञ्चाशदथ तत्रैव बालकाः निश्चक्रामोदरातूर्णं दित्या यावन्न लक्षितः ॥ ६.२२.
Altogether, forty-nine boys were born there; they quickly emerged from Diti’s womb before she could notice.
ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमंडले
Then, at dawn, when the sun’s disk had risen clear—
ततोऽभ्येत्य सहस्राक्षो दुर्गंधेन समावृतः
Then the thousand-eyed one approached, surrounded by a foul odor.
तं दृष्ट्वा तादृशं शक्रं दितिः प्रोवाच सादरम्
Seeing Indra in such a state, Diti addressed him respectfully.
किं त्वं शक्र निरु त्साहस्तेजोद्युतिविवर्जितः
Why are you, O Śakra, devoid of energy, courage, and brilliance?