Indra, the king of the gods, entered Diti’s body through its opening, and with his supreme power, he divided her embryo into seven distinct parts. As Indra, wielding his thunderbolt with a hundred spikes, began to split the embryo, it cried out in a melodious voice. This sound awoke Diti from her sleep. Indra then spoke gently to the embryo, saying, “Do not cry, do not cry.” Yet even as it wept, the mighty Indra continued to divide it. Hearing the cries, Diti implored, “Do not kill, do not kill!” Out of respect for his mother’s words, Indra withdrew. With his thunderbolt still in hand and his palms joined in reverence, Indra addressed Diti, “O goddess, you slept impure, with your head at your feet. Seizing 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 begins the forty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. After her embryo had been divided into seven, Diti, greatly distressed, spoke with gentle words to the unconquerable Indra, the thousand-eyed lord of the gods. “Because of my own fault, this embryo has been split into seven parts. O slayer of the strong, you are not to blame for this. Yet I ask one thing of you, O lord: 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, O son, roam the heavens. Let them be known as Maruts, divine in form, my own children. “Let one move in Brahmā’s world, another in your world, O Indra; let the third, renowned as Divyavāyu, be famed as well. And let four, at your command, roam the four directions. May good fortune be yours; these are my sons, born in time. By your deed, they will be known by the name Maruts.” Hearing her words, the thousand-eyed Purandara, slayer of Bala, joined his palms and replied, “All this will happen just as you have said, without doubt. Your sons, divine in form, will roam as you wish.” Thus, having come to this agreement, mother and son in the forest of austerities, their purpose accomplished, ascended to heaven. O Rāma, this is the very place once inhabited by Mahendra, and here Diti herself, accomplished in austerity, once moved about. And, O tiger among men, the son of Ikṣvāku, supremely righteous, was born here as well. Born of Alambuṣā, he was renowned as Viśāla; and by him, in this very place, the city called Viśālā was founded. Viśāla’s son was the mighty Hemacandra, whose famous son was Sucandra. Sucandra’s illustrious son was known as Dhūmrāśva, and Dhūmrāśva’s son was Sṛñjaya. Sṛñjaya’s son was the glorious and mighty Sahadeva, and Sahadeva’s son was Kuśāśva, supremely righteous. Kuśāśva’s son was the great and powerful Somadatta, and 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 rest comfortably; and tomorrow morning, O best of men, you should see Janaka. Sumati, of great splendor, having heard that Viśvāmitra had arrived, returned, greatly renowned. He performed the highest honors for his guests, together with his teachers and relatives, and after inquiring about Viśvāmitra’s welfare, he spoke respectfully to the sage, “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 begins the forty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. After exchanging greetings and inquiring after each other’s welfare, Sumati spoke 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? With eyes wide as lotus petals, bearing swords, quivers, and bows, they stand in the fullness of youth, beautiful as the Aśvins. Arrived here by chance, like immortals from the world of the gods, how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose are they, O sage? Like the sun and moon adorn the sky, they grace this land, alike in stature, bearing, and movement. For what reason have these best of men come upon this difficult path, bearing excellent weapons? I wish to hear the truth.” Hearing these words, Viśvāmitra recounted all that had occurred: their stay at Siddhāśrama, and the slaying of the Rākṣasas. The king was greatly astonished by Viśvāmitra’s words. He received the two sons of Daśaratha as honored guests, worthy of respect and mighty, and honored them according to custom. Having received the highest hospitality from noble-minded Sumati, the two Raghavas, after spending one night there, proceeded toward Mithilā. Seeing the auspicious city of Janaka, all the sages praised Mithilā, saying “Excellent, excellent!” and honored her greatly.