In ancient times, a fierce and mighty battle raged between the Daityas and the Ādityas. Those who approached Viṣṇu, the imperishable supreme person, found themselves crushed in combat by His formidable power. The sons of Aditi, the Ādityas, slew the sons of Diti, the Daityas, in this intense struggle between divine and demonic forces. After the defeat and destruction of her sons, Diti was overcome with grief. She approached her husband, Kaśyapa, son of Mārīca, and spoke with sorrow, "O revered one, I am bereft of sons, slain by your mighty children. I desire a son, gained through long austerity, who will be the slayer of Indra." Determined, she declared her intention to undertake severe austerities and asked Kaśyapa to grant her conception, so she might bear a son who would defeat Indra. Kaśyapa, radiant and compassionate, listened to her words and replied, "So be it; may auspiciousness be yours. Remain pure, O possessor of austerity. You will bear a son who will slay Indra in battle. If you remain pure for a full thousand years, you will bear from me a son who will destroy the three worlds." Having spoken thus, the sage gently touched Diti with his hand, blessed her, and departed to continue his own austerities. Filled with joy at her husband's promise, Diti journeyed to the place called Kushaplava and began her rigorous austerity. While she performed her penance, Indra, endowed with supreme virtues, attended upon her. He provided fire, kusa grass, wood, water, fruit, roots, and anything else she desired. Indra served Diti faithfully, offering massages and relief from fatigue, always at her side. As the thousand years of austerity drew near completion, with only ten years remaining, Diti, greatly rejoicing, spoke to Indra, "Ten years remain of my austerity, O best among the powerful; after that, you will see your brother. May it be auspicious for you. The son whom I shall bear for your sake, eager for victory, will share with you, free from affliction, the conquest of the three worlds. At your request, your great-souled father granted me a boon, concerning a son, at the end of a thousand years." As midday approached, Diti was overcome by sleep and inadvertently placed her feet where her head should be, thus breaking the purity required for her vow. Indra noticed this lapse, saw her impure, and rejoiced. Seizing the opportunity, he entered her body through its opening and, with supreme power, divided her embryo into seven parts. As the embryo was being split by Indra's thunderbolt with a hundred spikes, it cried out melodiously, awakening Diti. Indra spoke to the embryo, saying, "Do not cry, do not cry," but even as it wept, Indra continued to divide it. Diti, distressed, pleaded, "Do not kill, do not kill," and out of respect for his mother's words, Indra withdrew. Indra, holding the thunderbolt and with joined palms, addressed Diti, "O goddess, you slept impure, with your head at your feet. Finding that moment, O goddess, I split the embryo—who would have been my slayer in battle—into seven parts. For this, you ought to forgive me." Diti, greatly distressed by the fate of her embryo, spoke gently to Indra, the unconquerable thousand-eyed lord, "Because of my fault, this embryo has been split into seven parts; O lord of the gods, slayer of strong ones, there is no fault of yours in this matter. I wish for you to do something pleasing for me regarding the fate of my embryo: let these seven become the guardians of the seven groups of Maruts. These seven, carried by the wind, O son, may roam the heavens; let them be known as Maruts, divine in form, my own children. Let one move in Brahmā's world, another in Indra's world; the third, renowned as Divyavāyu, also of great fame. And four, O best of gods, by your command, will roam the directions. May good fortune be yours; in time, these are my sons. By your deed, they will be known by the name Maruts." Hearing her words, Indra, the thousand-eyed slayer of Bala, responded respectfully, "All this will happen just as you have said, without doubt. Your sons, divine in form, will roam as you wish." Thus, mother and son came to this agreement in the forest of austerities. With their purpose accomplished, Diti and Indra ascended to heaven. This very place, O Rāma, descendant of Kakutstha, was once inhabited by Mahendra, Indra himself. Here, Diti, accomplished in austerity, moved about. And in this place, the supremely righteous son of Ikṣvāku, born of Alambuṣā, was renowned as Viśāla; by him, the city called Viśālā was founded. Viśāla's son was the mighty Hemacandra, and after Hemacandra, his famous son was Sucandra. Thus, the tale of Diti, Indra, and the Maruts unfolded in this sacred land, echoing through the ages as a testament to destiny, penance, and divine agreement.