PLATE SIX

Diti, the mother of Hiranyaéksa and Hiranyakasipu, was overwhelmed
with lamentation and anger because her sons were killed by Lord Visnu
for the benefit of King Indra. Desiring to have a son who would kill In-
dra, she began constantly acting to satisfy her husband, Kasyapa, by her
pleasing behavior. Desiring to purify his wife, Kasyapa instructed her to
accept a vow of devotional service. He assured her that if she adhered to
the vow with faith for at least one year, she would give birth to a son
destined to kill Indra, but if there were any discrepancy in the discharge
of the vow, the son would be a friend to Indra. Indra could understand
the purpose of Diti’s vow, and so he outwardly became very friendly and
served Diti in a faithful way in order to cheat her as soon as he could find
some fault in her observances. Once Diti neglected to purify herself after
eating and, having grown weak, went to sleep at an improper time. Find-
ing this fault, Indra, who has all mystic powers, entered Diti’s womb
while she was unconscious, being fast asleep. With the help of his thun-
derbolt, he cut her embryo into seven pieces. In seven places, seven dif-
ferent living beings began crying. Indra told them, “Do not cry,” and
then he cut each of them into seven pieces again. Being very much ag-
grieved, they pleaded to Indra with folded hands, saying, “Dear Indra,
we are the Maruts, your brothers. Why are you trying to kill us?”
(pp. 225-257)
