Summary
The legend of Seven-Maruts, the Seven-Wind Gods, and the legend of the kings of Vishaala are narrated to Rama and Lakshmana, while Vishvamitra is narrating the legend of Vishaala. At the request of Diti, Indra blesses the seven segments of her fetus to become sapta marut gana-s, Seven Wind Gods, and the place where the legend of Indra-Diti has happened, that province later became the City of Vishaala.
Chapter [Sarga] 47 in Detail
saptadhaa tu krite garbhe ditih parama duhkhitaa |
sahasraaksam duraadharsam vaakyam sa anunayaa abraviit || 1-47-1
Diti was highly anguished [tormented or agonized] when her fetus is rendered into sevenfold, and spoke these appeasing words to the indomitable [unconquerable] Thousand-eyed Indra. Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about City Vishaala. [1-47-1]
mama aparaadhaat garbho ayam saptadhaa shakalii kritah |
na aparaadho hi deva iisha tava atra balasuudana || 1-47-2
‘Oh, Indra, the eliminator of demon Bala, this fetus of mine is sliced into seven segments owing to my own misdeed, oh, ruler of Gods, Indra, indeed there is no iniquity [sin] of yours in this matter.' Thus Diti started speaking to Indra. [1-47-2]
priyam tvat kritam icchaami mama garbha vipar.hyaye |
marutaam sapta saptaanaam sthaanapaalaa bhavantu te || 1-47-3
‘Though a reversal has happened against my thinking in the matter of my pregnancy, let these seven segments become your seven Wind-Gods, the rulers of seven ethereal-places, under your ruler-ship. [1-47-3]
vaata ska.ndhaa ime sapta carantu divi putraka |
maarutaa iti vikhyaataa divyaruupaa mama aatmajaah ||1-47-4
‘Oh, son Indra, let these seven sons of mine become the seven presiding deities of Cosmic Air Divisions and let them move in heaven with heavenly forms. [1-47-4]
brahma lokam caratu eka indra lokam tathaa aparah |
divya vaayuh iti khyaatah tritiiyo api mahaayashaah ||1-47-5
'One from the seven may permeate [to spread or diffuse through] Brahma's abode, likewise another may permeate the heaven of Indra, and even the third one, let him become a greatly celebrated and reputed as Divine Wind, and he may circulate in entire universe. [1-47-5]
catvaarah tu surashrestha disho vai tava shaasanaat |
samcarisyanti bhadram te kalena hi mama aatmajaah ||1-47-6
tvat kritena eva naamnaa vai maarutaa iti vishrutaah |
'Oh, chief of Gods, Indra, let four of my sons permeate [to spread or diffuse through] four directions according to time and at your command, let safety betide you, and let them be renowned verily by the name given by you as 'Marut,' because you have coaxed the crying fragments of fetus saying, 'maa ruda, maa ruda, 'do not cry, do not cry...' Thus Diti said to Indra. [1-47-6, 7a]
tasyaah tat vacanam shrutvaa sahasraaksah pura.ndarah ||1-47-7
uvaaca praanjalih vaakyam ditim balasuudanah |
On hearing her words, the Thousand-eyed destroyer of enemy's citadels and a demon named Bala, namely Indra, spoke this word to Diti, humbly adjoining his palms. [1-47-7b, 8a]
sarvam etat yathaa uktam te bhavisyati na sa.mshayah ||1-47-8
vicarisyanti bhadram te devaruupaah tava aatmajaah |
evam tau nishcayam kritvaa maataa putrau tapovane ||1-47-9
jagmatuh tridivam raama kritaarthau iti nah shrutam |
‘All this will happen as you have said, undoubtedly, and your offspring, the Maaruta-s, would be pervading in the forms of Gods, you be safe.' Thus Indra assured Diti. Those two, the stepmother Diti and the stepson Indra, on arriving at a decision in that ascetic forest, departed to heaven fulfilling their purposes. Thus we heard the legend. Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-47-8b, 9, 10a]
esa deshah sa kaakutstha mahendraat adyusitah puraa || 1-47-10
ditim yatra tapah siddhaam evam paricacaara sah |
Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, this province is that one which was once presided over by Indra, and where he rendered services to that accomplished one in her asceticism, namely lady Diti. [1-47-10b, 11a]
iksvaakostu naravyaaghra putrah parama dhaarmikah || 1-47-11
ala.mbusaayaam utpanno vishaala iti vishrutah |
tena ca aasiit iha sthaane vishaale iti purii kritaa || 1-47-12
To king Ikshvaku of Vishaala, oh, tigerly-man Rama, a highly righteous son was born through queen Alambusa, and he was renowned as Vishaala. There is a city in this place constructed by him and known by his own name, Vishaala. [1-47-11b, 12]
vishaalasya suto raama hemacandro mahaabalah |
sucandra iti vikhyaato hemacandraat anantarah || 1-47-13
Oh, Rama, Vishaala's son is the great-mighty Hemachandra, and Hemachandra's son is highly renowned as Suchandra. [1-47-13]
sucandra tanayo raama dhuumra ashva iti vishrutah |
dhuumraashva tanayah ca api srinjayah samapadyata || 1-47-14
The son of Suchandra became famous as Dhuumraashva, and oh, Rama, Dhuumraashva derived his son named Srinjaya. [1-47-14]
srinjayasya sutah shriimaan sahadevah prataapavaan |
kushaashvah sahadevasya putrah parama dhaarmikah || 1-47-15
The fortunate and valorous son of Srinjaya is Sahadeva, and the son of Sahadeva is the most righteous Kushaashva. [1-47-15]
kushaashvasya mahaatejaah somadattah prataapavaan |
somadattasya putrah tu kaakutstha iti vishrutah ||1-47-16
The highly resplendent and dauntless Somadatta is the son of Kushaashva and Somadatta's son is highly reputed as Kakutstha. [1-47-16]
tasya putro mahaatejaah samprati esa puriim imaam |
aavasat parama prakhyah sumatih naama durjayah || 1-47-17
Presently that Kakutstha's son named Sumati, who is a great-resplendent one, an unconquerable one, and a highly celebrated one is dwelling in this city. [1-47-17]
iksvaakostu prasaadena sarve vaishaalikaa nripaah |
diirgha aayuso mahaatmaano viiryavantah sudhaarmikaah || 1-47-18
By the grace of Ikshvaku, the successive kings of Vishaala have longevity, intrepidity [characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance], well-off in generosity, and they were great-souled ones. [1-47-18]
iha adya rajaniim ekaam sukham svapsyaamahe vayam |
shvah prabhaate narashrestha janakam drastum arhhasi || 1-47-19
Today we may gladly go to sleep here for a night, and oh, best one among men, and it will be apt of you to see Janaka, the King of Mithila tomorrow morning. Thus Sage Vishvamitra spoke to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-47-19]
sumatih tu mahaatejaa vishvaamitram upaagatam |
shrutvaa nara vara shresthah pratyaagacchan mahaayashaah || 1-47-20
The best one among best men, a widely reputed and the highly resplendent king of Vishaala, namely Sumati, having heard that Vishvamitra has arrived at the precincts of the city, came to him for a warm welcome. [1-47-20]
puujaam ca paramaam kritvaa sa upaadhyaayah sabaandhavah |
praanjalih kushalam pristvaa vishvaamitram atha abraviit || 1-47-21
King Sumati arrived along with his mentors and family members, offered an excellent veneration to Vishvamitra, and then spoke to the sage with adjoined palms enquiring about his well being. [1-47-21]
dhanyo asmi anugrihiito asmi yasya me visayam mune |
sampraapto darshanam caiva na asti dhanyataro mama || 1-47-22
To which province you have visited that happens to be mine, thereby I could get an audience of yours without stirring myself from my country, hence none will be more fortunate than me. So said king Sumati to Vishvamitra. [1-47-22]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande sapta catvaarimshah sargah
Thus, this is the 47th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate