Hear now the tale of the ancient lineages and the wondrous events that unfolded thereafter. The sons of Gaveshthi were noble and numerous, and among the descendants of Jambha, three sons were born: Shatadundubhi, Daksha, and Khanda. Bashkala, in turn, had four sons: Virodha, Manu, Vriksayu, and Kushalimukha. Now, let us turn to the sons of Kalanemi, who were Brahmajit, Kshatrajit, Devantaka, and Narantaka. From Shambhu came Dhanuka, Asiloma, Nabala, Sagomukha, Gavaksha, and Gomans—each one named among the sons of Shambhu. Virochana’s son was the mighty Bali, famed for his strength and valor. Bali himself became the father of a hundred sons, each one a king in his own right. Among these, four stood out for their great prowess: Sahasrabahu, the eldest; Bana, greatly esteemed among the Dravidas; Kumbhanabha; Gardabhaksha; and Kushi. These were the chief among Bali’s sons. Bali also had two daughters, Shakuni and Putana, and his descendants—sons and grandsons—numbered in their hundreds and thousands. Bali, illustrious and powerful, gave rise to a mighty lineage. From Bana, Candra, and Manas, the line of Lauhitya was established. Now, Diti, grieving for her sons who had been slain, sought to win the favor of her husband, the sage Kashyapa. Kashyapa, pleased and properly honored by her, offered her a boon, asking, “What do you desire, O pure one?” Thus addressed by her husband Maricha Kashyapa, Diti spoke with joined palms, “O Lord, my sons have been slain by your sons, the Adityas. I desire a son, one born of long austerity, who will be the slayer of Indra. I shall undertake penance; grant me conception.” Hearing her heartfelt words, the radiant Kashyapa replied, “So be it, O treasure of austerity. Remain pure, and you shall bear a noble son, destined to be the slayer of Indra in battle. If you remain pure for a full hundred years, you will give birth to a son renowned throughout the three worlds.” Having spoken thus, the divine sage dwelt with her, and then departed for the three worlds. Filled with joy, Diti journeyed to a suitable forest and began her severe penance. As she performed her austerities, Indra, the thousand-eyed king of the gods, attended to her with utmost care. He provided her with fire, sacrificial grass, wood, fruit, roots, and all that was required for her rites. Indra also massaged her and relieved her fatigue, serving her at all times and in all places. Thus honored, Diti addressed Indra, “I am pleased with you, best of the gods. Ten years remain, O child, and then you will see your brother. I will set my mind on victory, and having obtained such a son, I shall, with him, conquer the three worlds.” Time passed, and one day, when the sun was at its zenith, Diti, overcome by sleep, lay down with her head at her knees. Indra, seeing her in this impure state, with her hair fallen at her feet, recognized his opportunity and was filled with both laughter and joy. Then Purandara, the mighty Indra, entered her open body. Within, he beheld the immense embryo and, with his thunderbolt, struck the main part. As the thunderbolt with a hundred spikes split the embryo, it cried out terribly, trembling again and again. Śakra, Indra, spoke to the embryo, “Do not cry.” But the embryo divided into seven, and Indra, with his thunderbolt, split each of these again into seven, making forty-nine parts. At that moment, Diti awoke. Seeing what was happening, Diti cried out, “Do not kill, do not kill!” Out of respect for his mother’s words, Indra, the thunderbolt-bearer, emerged from her womb with joined palms and his weapon in hand, and addressed her, “O goddess, you were impure and asleep, with your hair at your feet. Seizing that moment, I, Śakra, destroyer of foes, have divided your embryo in many ways. Forgive me for this.” With her embryo thus rendered fruitless, Diti was deeply distressed. The thousand-eyed Indra then spoke to his mother, “If your embryo has been made fruitless because of my actions, O lord of gods, O mighty son of a sage, you are not at fault.” Diti replied, “There is no blame in slaying an enemy; therefore, I do not curse you. I wish only to do what is dear—grant my embryo a blessing.” She then asked, “Let there be seven stations in heaven for my sons; let these seven wind-clusters be traversed by my sons. Let those groups, seven times seven, be renowned as the Maruts.” She described their abodes: “On earth is the first cluster; the second is with the sun; the third is with the moon; the fourth among the stars; the fifth among the planets; the sixth in the circle of the Seven Sages; and the seventh, the highest wind-cluster, at the pole star. Today, at various times, my sons will wander in these places; let my sons move as these wind-clusters.” Thus, the first cluster on earth brings impure things, and Diti’s sons move as this group, traversing the earth. The second, blowing from pure things towards the sun, is the second wind-cluster, and another group of her sons moves there. Above the sun, from the moon, is the upward wind—the third wind-cluster—and the third group moves there. Above the moon, from the stars, is the fourth, called the good wind, and the fourth group of her sons moves there, O mighty one. And so, the Maruts, born of Diti’s penance and Indra’s intervention, came to dwell throughout the cosmos, each group taking its place among the winds and the heavens, renowned in all the worlds.