Indra, the king of the gods, approached Diti, who was revered among the deities, and spoke with gentle affection: “I am pleased with you, O best of gods. Only ten years remain, O blessed one, and then, O fortunate mother, you shall behold your son, your brother’s equal.” Hearing this, Diti’s heart swelled with hope. She declared, “My mind is set on victory. With such a son, I will, together with him, achieve the conquest of the three worlds.” After this exchange, as the sun stood high at noon, Diti, overcome by fatigue, lay down to rest, curling herself with her head at her knees, her hair falling loosely to the ground. At that time, Indra noticed her impure state—her hair unbound and fallen, her body unclean from ritual observances—and he saw his opportunity. Both Indra and his inner resolve laughed and rejoiced at the chance before him. Then, Purandara—another name for Indra—entered Diti’s unguarded body. Within, he saw the immense embryo growing inside her. With his mighty thunderbolt, Indra struck the main part of the embryo. As the thunderbolt with its hundred spikes split the embryo, it cried out in agony, trembling again and again. Śakra, as Indra is also called, spoke gently to the embryo, “Do not cry.” The embryo, however, did not remain whole. It split into seven parts, and Indra, relentless in his purpose, divided each of those seven once more with his thunderbolt, making them sevenfold again. At that very moment, Diti awoke from her sleep. 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 hands joined in reverence, holding his weapon, and addressed her, “O goddess, you were impure and asleep, your hair at your feet. In that moment, I, Śakra, destroyer of foes, split your embryo in many ways. Please, forgive me.” Diti was deeply distressed, her hopes dashed with her embryo rendered fruitless. The thousand-eyed Indra then spoke words of comfort to his mother. Diti, noble in spirit, replied, “If my embryo has been made fruitless because of your actions, O lord of gods, O mighty son of a sage, you are not at fault. There is no blame in slaying an enemy. Therefore, I do not curse you. Instead, I wish for something dear to me—grant my embryo a blessing.” Moved by her words, Indra agreed. Diti continued, “Let there be seven stations in heaven for my sons. Let these seven wind-clusters be traversed by my sons. Let these groups, seven times seven, be renowned as the Maruts.” She then described the dwellings of these wind-gods: “On earth is the first cluster; the second is with the sun; the third is known with the moon; the fourth among the group of stars. The fifth is among the planets; the sixth in the circle of the Seven Sages; the seventh, however, is the highest wind-cluster at the pole star. Today, at various times, my sons wander in these places. Let my sons move as these wind-clusters.” She continued, “The first cluster on earth brings impure things; let my sons move as the first group, traversing the earth. The second cluster, which blows from pure things towards the sun, is the second wind-cluster; let the second group of my sons move there. Above the sun, then from the moon, is the upward wind, the third cluster; let my sons move there. Above the moon, from the stars, is the fourth, called the good wind; let the fourth group of my sons move there. Above the Yakṣas and from the planets is the fifth, the gentle wind; let the fifth group move there. Above the planets, from the sages, is the sixth, called the supreme wind; let my sons move there. Above the Saptarṣis and above Dhruva, the pole star, is the seventh region, the support of the wind, which is carried around; let my sons remain there.” Thus, Diti established that her sons, the Maruts, would move through these regions at various times, and they would be known by these names. Then, together with Indra, she gave them names, and by their deeds, the Maruts became distinct from one another. The first group was named Sattvajyotis, Aditya, Satyajyotis, Tiryagjyotis, Sajyotis, Jyotishman, and another. The second group: Ṛtajit, Satyajit, Suṣeṇa, Senajit, Satmitra, Abhimitra, and Harimitra. The third group: Kṛta, Satya, Dhruva, Dhartṛ, Vidhāraya, Dhvānta, Dhuni, Ugra, Bhīma, Abhiyu, and Sakṣipa. The fourth group: Īdṛk, Caiva, Tathānyādṛk, Yādṛk, Pratikṛt, Samiti, and Saṃrambha. The fifth group: Īdṛk, Puruṣa, Anyādṛkṣā, Cetasaḥ, Samitā, Samitadṛkṣā, and Pratidṛkṣā. Thus, fifty Maruts were named, their names given by Diti and Candramas, the moon. After hearing these names, Diti spoke to Indra, “O son, these are my sons who move in the region of the wind; let them move about happily with the gods.” Hearing her words, Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, joined his palms and replied, “Mother, let it be so. All will happen just as you have said, without doubt. Your sons, great-souled and approved by the gods, will become divine, and with the gods, they will partake of the sacrifices.” Therefore, it is known that all these Maruts are gods—immortal, brothers of Indra, and sons of Diti, ascetics all. With this understanding, mother and son, rich in austerity, joyfully ascended to heaven, and Śakra, too, returned to his celestial abode. It is said that whoever hears or recites the auspicious birth of the Maruts will not suffer from drought and will attain a long life. Now, listen further to the tale of the sons of Danu. The sons of Danu, famed in their lineage, became great Asuras. Led by Vipracitti, they numbered a hundred, all of fierce strength, having obtained boons and performed intense austerities.