Individual verses with meanings
Hari Om.
Let us begin the fortysixth sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
In this sarga, sage viSwAmitra continues the story of indra and vengeance in the heart of the mother of asuras – diti.
O rAma, diti was devastated at the death of her sons and prayed to her husband kaSyapa – “Lord, your powerful sons led by indra vanquished my children. Hence I beg you to grant me a son – whom I will secure through my austerities – who will be capable of defeating indra and rule over the world. Please grant my desire”.
kaSyapa blessed the greatly grieving diti and said if she remains pure for a thousand years, she will beget a son through him who will lord over the three worlds and conquer indra. The brilliant kaSyapa patted her and blessed her by saying ‘may good happen” left for penance.
diti was delighted at this blessings from her husband and having reached a place by name kuSaplavana practiced intense penance. As she performed penance, the lord of dEvas, thousand eyed indra began to serve her. He would run errands for her and bring the necessary articles such as kuSa grass, water, firewood, fruits, roots and whatever else was desired by her. He served diti by making her comfortable in every way including massaging her feet to alleviate the fatigue generated from her intense vows.
Time passed in these austerities and when only ten more years of penance out of the prescribed thousand remained to beget a son, diti was pleased with indra and told him – “O illustrious lord of dEvas, only ten years are remaining to beget a son out of a boon granted by your father. I will make him desirous of conquests. You’ll rule the world together with this brother of yours”.
After addressing indra thus, as midday approached diti dozed off curling up her body and pointing her feet towards her head. indra was waiting for this lapse on diti’s part and rejoiced at this vulnerable and impure posture of diti. (an expectant woman shall not sleep in a manner that endangers the fetus) He entered into her womb and severed the embryo into seven parts with his vajra!
The embryo cried in pain while indra requested it not to cry – by saying mA ruda (don’t cry). diti was woken up by this violent unfolding in her womb and cried out immediately “don’t kill, don’t kill”!
Responding to her piteous cry, indra didn’t kill the embryo and leaving it in seven parts emerged out of diti’s womb. Addressing her he said, “O dEvi, you slept in a curled up (improper) posture endangering the fetus and seizing this opportunity I slayed the fetus who would be my tormentor into seven pieces! May you forgive me”.
Here we conclude the fortysixth sarga of the bAlakAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 