CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

This chapter gives the history of Diti, the wife of Kasyapa, and how she
followed a vow to have a son who would kill Indra. It also describes how
Indra attempted to foil her plan by cutting to pieces the son within her
womb.

In relation to Tvasta and his descendants, there is a description of the
dynasty of the Adityas (sons of Aditi) and other demigods. Préni, the
wife of Aditi’s fifth son named Savita, had three daughters—Savitri,
Vyahrti and Trayi—and very exalted sons named Agnihotra, Pasu,
Soma, Caturmasya and the five Mahayajiias. Siddhi, the wife of Bhaga,
had three sons, named Mahima, Vibhu and Prabhu, and she also had one
daughter, whose name was Agi. Dhata had four wives—Kuha, Sinivali,
Raka and Anumati—who had four sons, named Sayam, Darsa, Pratah
and Pirnamasa respectively. Kriya, the wife of Vidhata, gave birth to the
five Purisyas, who are representatives of five kinds of fire-gods. Bhrgu,
the mind-born son of Brahmi, took his birth again from Carsani, the
wife of Varuna, and the great sage Valmiki appeared from Varuna’s
semen. Agastya and Vasistha were two sons of Varuna and Mitra. Upon
seeing the beauty of Urvasi, Mitra and Varuna discharged semen, which
they kept in an earthen pot. From that pot, Agastya and Vasistha ap-
peared. Mitra had a wife named Revati, who gave birth to three sons—
Utsarga, Arista and Pippala. Aditi had twelve sons, of whom Indra was
the eleventh. Indra’s wife was named Paulomi (Sacidevi). She gave birth
to three sons—Jayanta, Rsabha and Midhusa. By His own powers, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Vamanadeva. From His
wife, whose name was Kirti, appeared a son named Brhatsloka.
Brhatsloka’s first son was known as Saubhaga. This is a description of the
sons of Aditi. A description of Aditya Urukrama, who is an incarnation
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be offered in the Eighth
Canto.

The demons born of Diti are also described in this chapter. In the
dynasty of Diti appeared the great saintly devotee Prahlada and also Bali,

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