When her sons had been slain, Diti, overwhelmed with sorrow, approached her husband, the great sage Kaśyapa, son of Mārīca. With a heart heavy from loss, she addressed him: “O revered one, your mighty children have destroyed my own sons. I am bereft and grief-stricken. I yearn for a son, gained through long and arduous austerity, who will be powerful enough to slay Indra himself. Permit me, O lord, to undertake this austerity and grant me the boon of such a son.” Hearing her plea, the radiant and wise Kaśyapa, full of compassion, spoke gently to Diti, who was immersed in her grief. “So be it. May auspiciousness be yours. Remain pure, O possessor of great austerity. If you maintain your purity for a full thousand years, you will bear from me a son who will be the slayer of Indra in battle, a being so powerful he could threaten the three worlds.” Having thus spoken, the illustrious Kaśyapa tenderly touched Diti, blessing her, and then departed to resume his own austerities. Delighted by her husband’s promise, Diti journeyed to the sacred place called Kushaplava. There, she began her severe penance, determined to fulfill the conditions set before her. As she performed her austerity, Indra—the mighty and virtuous king of the gods—began to serve her. He supplied her with all she needed: fire, kusa grass, wood, water, fruits, roots, and anything else she desired. With massages and devoted care, Indra attended to Diti, ensuring her comfort and relieving her fatigue at all times. As the thousand years drew to a close and only ten years remained, Diti, filled with joy, spoke to Indra: “Ten years from now, O best among the powerful, you shall see your brother, born for your sake. May this bring you auspiciousness. The son I shall bear, eager for victory, will share with you, untroubled, the conquest of the three worlds. At your request, your great-souled father granted me this boon of a son, to be born at the end of my thousand-year penance.” One day, as midday approached, Diti, overcome by sleep, lay down carelessly, placing her feet where her head should be—a breach of the rules of purity. Indra, observing her in that impure state, rejoiced. Seizing the opportunity, he entered her body through its opening and, with his supreme power, divided her embryo into seven parts. As Indra, wielding his thunderbolt with a hundred spikes, split the embryo, it cried out melodiously. Awakened by the sound, Diti realized what was happening. Indra spoke to the embryo, saying, “Do not cry, do not cry,” but even as it wept, the mighty Indra continued to divide it. Diti, seeing this, pleaded, “Do not kill, do not kill.” Out of respect for her words, Indra ceased his actions. With joined palms and holding his thunderbolt, Indra addressed Diti: “O goddess, you slept in an impure manner, with your head at your feet. Finding this moment, I split the embryo—who would have become my slayer—into seven parts. For this, I ask your forgiveness.” Diti, her heart aching but gentle in speech, replied to the unconquerable Indra, “Because of my own fault, my embryo has been divided into seven. O lord of the gods, slayer of the strong, you are not to blame in this matter. I ask you, please do something pleasing for me regarding the fate of my children: let these seven become the guardians of the seven groups of Maruts. Let them, carried by the wind, roam the heavens and be known as Maruts, divine in form, my own children. May one dwell in Brahmā’s world, another in your world, and the third—renowned as Divyavāyu—also be famed. Let the remaining four, by your command, roam the four directions. May good fortune be yours; in time, these are my sons. By your deed, they shall be known as Maruts.” Hearing these words, the thousand-eyed Indra, slayer of Bala, joined his palms and replied, “All will happen just as you have said, without doubt. Your sons, divine in form, will roam as you wish.” Thus, mother and son, their purpose accomplished, departed from the forest of austerities and ascended to heaven. This very place, O Rama, is where Mahendra once resided, and where Diti performed her penance. In this region, a noble lineage flourished. The son of Ikṣvāku, born of Alambuṣā, was renowned as Viśāla. It was he who founded the city called Viśālā. Viśāla’s son was the mighty Hemacandra, and Hemacandra’s illustrious son was Sucandra. Sucandra’s son was the renowned Dhūmrāśva, whose own son was Sṛñjaya. Sṛñjaya’s son was the glorious and powerful Sahadeva, and Sahadeva’s son was the supremely righteous Kuśāśva.