Verse 1
विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सह लक्ष्मणः ।
उवाच परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ॥
Hearing the words of Vishvamitra, Rama, together with Lakshmana, became exceedingly pleased and spoke to the great sage Vishvamitra.
Verse 2
भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि देवासुरसमागमम् ।
यथा वृत्तं पुरा युद्धं तन्मे कथय सुव्रत ॥
“O Bhagavan, I wish to hear about the encounter between the gods and the Asuras. O righteous one, tell me how that ancient battle took place.”
Verse 3
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं रामं रघुकुलोद्वहम् ॥
Hearing those words, the great sage Vishvamitra spoke sweetly to Rama, the descendant of the Raghu dynasty.
Verse 4
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम देवासुरमहारणम् ।
बभूव परमं घोरं त्रैलोक्यभयवर्धनम् ॥
“O Rama, in the ancient Krita Yuga there was a terrible and great battle between the gods and the Asuras, causing fear throughout the three worlds.”
Verse 5
तस्मिन् युद्धे महाघोरे देवासुरसमागमे ।
दितेः पुत्रा महावीर्या अदितेः पुत्रकैः सह ॥
In that dreadful battle between the gods and Asuras, the mighty sons of Diti fought against the sons of Aditi.
Verse 6
युद्धं परमसंरब्धं बभूव सुमहाबलम् ।
तत्र देवाः सुरश्रेष्ठा असुरांश्च महाबलान् ॥
A fierce and immensely powerful battle took place there between the foremost gods and the mighty Asuras.
Verse 7
जघ्नुः परस्परं सर्वे देवासुरगणास्तदा ।
ततः परमसंहृष्टा देवाः सर्वे महाबलाः ॥
At that time, all the hosts of gods and Asuras struck one another down. Then all the mighty gods became greatly delighted.
Verse 8
असुराणां तु वीराणां युद्धे ह्यपराजिताः ।
देवा विजित्य तान् सर्वान् त्रिदिवं समुपागताः ॥
Having defeated the heroic Asuras in battle, the gods, who had been victorious, returned to heaven.
Verse 9
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे ब्रह्माणमुपचक्रमुः ।
विजयं कथयन्तस्ते युद्धे दानवसंयुगे ॥
Then all the hosts of gods approached Brahma and narrated their victory in the battle against the Danavas.
Verse 10
ब्रह्मा तु तान् महाभागान् देवांश्चैवाभ्यनन्दत ।
उवाच परमं वाक्यं लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥
Brahma praised those greatly blessed gods and spoke these important words for the welfare of the worlds.
Verse 11
धर्मेण जयता युद्धं नाधर्मेण कदाचन ।
धर्मो हि परमं बलं देवानां च सनातनम् ॥
“Win battles through righteousness, never through unrighteousness. Righteousness is indeed the supreme and eternal strength of the gods.”
Verse 12
एवमुक्तास्तु देवास्ते ब्रह्मणा परमात्मना ।
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं त्रिदिवं पुनरागमन् ॥
Thus addressed by Brahma, the Supreme Being, the gods bowed their heads before him and returned again to heaven.
Verse 13
ततः कालेन महता दितिः पुत्रार्थिनी शुभा ।
कश्यपं मुनिशार्दूलं तपसा पर्यतोषयत् ॥
After a long time, the auspicious Diti, desiring a son, pleased the tiger among sages, Kashyapa, through austerities.
Verse 14
तस्याः तुष्टो महातेजा मुनिः कश्यपसत्तमः ।
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं दितिं पुत्रार्थिनीं तदा ॥
The greatly radiant and excellent sage Kashyapa became pleased with her and spoke sweet words to Diti, who desired a son.
Verse 15
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते यत्ते मनसि वर्तते ।
ददामि ते महाभागे तपसा तोषितो ह्यहम् ॥
“May you be blessed. Choose the boon that is in your mind. O greatly fortunate one, I shall grant it to you, for I have been pleased by your austerities.”
Verse 16
सा तु पुत्रं महातेजा दितिर्वव्रे महाबलम् ।
देवानां चापि सर्वेषां जेतारं बलवत्तरम् ॥
Diti asked for a son of immense radiance and great strength, one who would be more powerful than all the gods and capable of defeating them.
Verse 17
तस्याः तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कश्यपो मुनिसत्तमः ।
उवाच परमं वाक्यं दितिं धर्मार्थसंहितम् ॥
Hearing her words, the excellent sage Kashyapa spoke to Diti words that were in accordance with righteousness and duty.
Verse 18
शुचिर्भूत्वा महाभागे शतं वर्षाणि संयता ।
पुत्रं जनय कल्याणि देवानामपि दर्पहन् ॥
“O greatly fortunate one, remain pure and disciplined for a hundred years, and then you will give birth to a son who will humble even the pride of the gods.”
Verse 19
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलः कश्यपो मुनिसत्तमः ।
तपस्यन्तीं तदा दितिं पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत ॥
Having spoken thus, the excellent sage Kashyapa again addressed Diti, who was engaged in austerities.
Verse 20
शुचिर्भव महाभागे नियमेन समन्विता ।
न ते गर्भं विनश्येत् वै यदि सत्यं त्वमाचरेः ॥
“O greatly fortunate one, remain pure and observe the prescribed discipline. Your pregnancy will not be destroyed if you faithfully follow these rules.”
Verse 21
सा तु तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथेति प्रत्युवाच ह ।
नियमं च समास्थाय तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् ॥
Hearing his words, she replied, “So be it,” and observing the prescribed discipline, she performed severe austerities.
Verse 22
तस्या वर्षशतं पूर्णं तपसः पर्यवर्तत ।
ततः पुत्रमसूतैषा दितिः परमदुर्जयम् ॥
When the hundred years of her austerity were complete, Diti gave birth to a son who was extremely difficult to defeat.
Verse 23
तं तु पुत्रं महातेजा दितिः परमदुर्जयम् ।
जज्ञे परमसंहृष्टा कश्यपस्य महात्मनः ॥
Diti became exceedingly delighted upon giving birth to that greatly radiant and extremely powerful son of the great-souled Kashyapa.
Verse 24
ततः पुत्रस्य जन्मान्ते देवाः सर्वे भयार्दिताः ।
इन्द्रं समुपगम्याथ ऊचुः परमदुःखिताः ॥
After the birth of that son, all the gods, afflicted with fear, approached Indra and spoke to him in great distress.
Verse 25
भगवन् देवदेवेश दितेः पुत्रो महाबलः ।
जातोऽयं नः परित्राणं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि प्रभो ॥
“O Bhagavan, Lord of the gods, this immensely powerful son of Diti has been born. O Lord, you should protect us.”
Verse 26
ततः शक्रो महातेजा देवैः सह समागतः ।
दितिं च पुत्रसहितां ददर्श परमाद्भुताम् ॥
Then the greatly radiant Shakra, together with the gods, approached and saw Diti with her son, a wondrous sight.
Verse 27
स तु दृष्ट्वा महातेजा दितिं पुत्रसमन्विताम् ।
विचिन्त्य मनसा सर्वं तत्रैव समुपाविशत् ॥
Seeing Diti with her son, the greatly radiant Indra reflected upon the matter in his mind and remained there.
Verse 28
ततो वज्रधरः शक्रो दितिं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
मातस्तव सुतो वीरः कथं नाम भविष्यति ॥
Then Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, spoke to Diti: “Mother, what will be the name of your heroic son?”
Verse 29
दितिस्तु परमप्रीता पुत्रनाम चकार ह ।
मारुतो नाम मे पुत्रो भविष्यति महाबलः ॥
Diti, greatly pleased, gave her son the name Maruta and said, “My son shall be named Maruta and shall possess great strength.”
Verse 30
ततः शक्रो महातेजा तस्य पुत्रस्य रक्षणे ।
नियुक्तो देवसंघेन दित्या चापि महात्मना ॥
Then the greatly radiant Shakra was appointed by the hosts of gods, together with the great-souled Diti, to protect that son.
Verse 31
स तु पुत्रं महातेजा दितिं चापि महाबलाम् ।
ररक्ष देवदेवेशो वज्रहस्तः पुरंदरः ॥
The Lord of the gods, Purandara, wielder of the thunderbolt, protected the greatly radiant son and the mighty Diti.
Verse 32
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दितिः पुत्रमथाब्रवीत् ।
शक्रं त्वं सततं पुत्र रक्षस्व नियतेन्द्रियः ॥
After some time, Diti said to her son, “My child, always protect Shakra and remain disciplined in your senses.”
Verse 33
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्रो मातुर्वचः सदा ।
शक्रस्य च हितं कृत्वा तत्रैव न्यवसत् सुखम् ॥
Hearing his mother’s words, the son always acted for the welfare of Shakra and lived there happily.
Verse 34
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे तं पुत्रं दितिनन्दनम् ।
मारुतं नाम चक्रुस्ते देवा इन्द्रसमप्रभम् ॥
Then all the hosts of gods gave that son of Diti the name Maruta, as radiant as Indra himself.
Verse 35
ततः शक्रः स तं पुत्रं भ्रातरं समुपागमत् ।
सख्यं चकार तेनैव देवदेवः शचीपतिः ॥
Then Shakra approached that son as his brother, and the Lord of the gods, the husband of Shachi, formed a friendship with him.
Verse 36
तेषां तु तत्र संहृष्टं बभूव परमं सुखम् ।
भ्रातृभावेन संयुक्तानां देवानां च महात्मनाम् ॥
There was great happiness among them there, as the gods became united with him in the spirit of brotherhood.
Verse 37
ततः प्रभृति ते सर्वे मरुतो नाम विश्रुताः ।
इन्द्रस्य सहया भूत्वा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुताः ॥
From then onward, they became renowned by the name Marutas. Becoming companions of Indra, they became famous throughout the three worlds.
Verse 38
एतदाख्यानमाख्यातं मया ते रघुनन्दन ।
देवानां चासुराणां च यथावृत्तं पुरातनम् ॥
O delight of the Raghu dynasty, I have narrated to you this ancient account of the gods and Asuras exactly as it occurred.
Verse 39
यः पठेत् शृणुयाद् वापि देवासुरसमागमम् ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥
Whoever reads or hears this account of the encounter between the gods and Asuras becomes free from all sins and is honoured in the heavenly world.
Verse 40
पुत्रपौत्रसमायुक्तः श्रीमान् दीर्घमायुर्भवेत् ।
सर्वान् कामानवाप्नोति यशश्चाप्नोति पुष्कलम् ॥
Such a person becomes blessed with sons and grandsons, prosperity and long life, obtains all desired things, and gains abundant fame.
Verse 41
इति ते कथितं राम देवानामसुरैः सह ।
चरितं पुण्यदं घोरं सर्वलोकहितावहम् ॥
Thus, O Rama, I have narrated to you the sacred and terrible account of the gods together with the Asuras, which brings welfare to all the worlds.
Verse 42
श्रुत्वा तु परमं पुण्यं देवासुरसमागमम् ।
रामः परमसंहृष्टो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत् ॥
Hearing this highly sacred account of the encounter between the gods and Asuras, Rama became exceedingly delighted and spoke to Vishvamitra.
Verse 43
भगवन् विस्तरेणैव श्रोतुमिच्छामि सुव्रत ।
कथयस्व महाभाग सर्वं मे नात्र संशयः ॥
“O Bhagavan, O righteous one, I wish to hear everything in detail. O greatly fortunate sage, tell me all of it; I have no doubt.”
Verse 44
विश्वामित्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनं शुभम् ।
उवाच परमप्रीतो राघवं रघुनन्दनम् ॥
Hearing these auspicious words of Rama, Vishvamitra became exceedingly pleased and spoke to Rama, the delight of the Raghu dynasty.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।
Thus ends the forty-fifth Sarga of the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the original epic.