Indra, the king of the gods, provided for Diti in every way during her long austerities. He brought her fire, kusa grass, wood, water, fruits, roots, and whatever else she desired. Attending to her constantly, Indra offered massages and relieved her fatigue, ensuring her comfort at all times. When only ten years remained of her thousand-year penance, Diti, filled with joy, spoke to Indra. She said, “Ten years remain of my austerity, O most powerful one. After that, you will see your brother—may it be auspicious for you. The son I will 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 at the end of a thousand years, concerning a son.” Having spoken thus, Diti, as midday approached, was overcome by sleep and, in her exhaustion, placed her feet where her head should be. Seeing her impure, with her hair at her feet instead of her head, Indra laughed and rejoiced. Seizing the opportunity, Indra entered her body through its opening and, with supreme power, divided her embryo into seven parts. As Indra split the embryo with his thunderbolt, which had a hundred spikes, the embryo cried out melodiously. Diti awoke at the sound. Indra spoke to the embryo, saying, “Do not cry, do not cry,” but even as it wept, he continued to split it. Diti, distressed, pleaded, “Do not kill, do not kill.” Out of respect for his mother’s words, Indra withdrew. Indra, holding his thunderbolt and with joined palms, spoke to Diti: “O goddess, you slept impure, with your head at your feet. Finding that moment, I split the embryo—who would have been my slayer in battle—into seven parts. For this, you ought to forgive me.” Now, O Rama, hear the forty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. When her embryo had been divided into seven, Diti, greatly distressed, spoke gently to the unconquerable, thousand-eyed Indra. She said, “Because of my fault, this embryo has been split into seven parts. O lord of the gods, slayer of the strong, 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, 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, the thousand-eyed Purandara, the slayer of Bala, with joined palms, replied, “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, having made this agreement in the forest of austerities, accomplished their purpose and went to heaven. This, O descendant of Kakutstha, is the place once inhabited by Mahendra. Here, Diti, accomplished in austerity, moved about. And, O tiger among men, the son of Ikṣvāku, supremely righteous—born of Alambuṣā—was renowned as Viśāla; and by him, in this place, the city called Viśālā was founded. Viśāla’s son was the mighty Hemacandra, and after Hemacandra, his famous son was Sucandra. The illustrious son of Sucandra was known as Dhūmrāśva; Dhūmrāśva’s son was Sṛñjaya. Sṛñjaya’s son was the glorious and mighty Sahadeva; Sahadeva’s son was Kuśāśva, supremely righteous. Kuśāśva’s son was the great and powerful Somadatta; Somadatta’s son was renowned as Kākutstha. His son, of great brilliance, now dwells in this city—famed and unconquerable—his name is Sumati. By the grace of Ikṣvāku, all the kings of Vaiśālī are long-lived, noble, valiant, and highly righteous. Here, tonight, we shall sleep comfortably for one night; tomorrow morning, O best of men, you should see Janaka. Sumati, of great splendor, having heard that Viśvāmitra had arrived, returned, O best of men, greatly renowned. Having performed the highest honors, together with his teachers and relatives, with joined palms, after inquiring of his welfare, he spoke to Viśvāmitra: “Blessed am I, and favored am I, O sage, whose land you have entered; having seen you, there is none more fortunate than I.” Now, listen to the forty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. After exchanging greetings and inquiring of each other’s welfare, at the end of their conversation, Sumati spoke these words to the great sage: “May you be blessed—who are these two youths, equal to the gods in valor, whose gait is like that of elephants and lions, heroic, resembling tigers and bulls?