Ch 3 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

४.३ तृतीयोऽध्यायः । दित्या अदित्यै शापदानम् । व्यास उवाच । कारणानि बहून्यत्राप्यवतारे हरेः किल । सर्वेषां चैव देवानामंशावतरणेष्वपि ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king; The incarnation of Hari and the incarnation of the Amsa Avatāras of all the other Devas are accountable to many causes. The chief cause being Karma; the minor causes being many.

Ch 3 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वसुदेवावतारस्य कारणं शृणु तत्त्वतः । देवक्याश्चैव रोहिण्या अवतारस्य कारणम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Hear, now, the cause of the incarnations of Vasudeva (Kṛṣṇa’s father), Devakī and Rohinī in detail.

Ch 3 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एकदा कश्यपः श्रीमान्यज्ञार्थं धेनुमाहरत् । याचितोऽयं बहुविधं न ददौ धेनुमुत्तमाम् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Once, on an occasion, Śrīmān Kaśyapa stole away the Kāmadhenu (the heavenly Cow, yielding all desires) of the Deva Varuṇa for his sacrificial purpose; and though he was entreated by Varuṇa often and often to return the cow, Kaśyapa did not return to him that, the best of all the cows.

Ch 3 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वरुणस्तु ततो गत्वा ब्रह्माणं जगतः प्रभुम् । प्रणम्योवाच दीनात्मा स्वदुःखं विनयान्वितः ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

Varuṇa became very sorry; he went to Brahmā, the Lord of the creation and told him humbly all that had happened and about his sorrows.

Ch 3 Verse 5-6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किं करोमि महाभाग मत्तोऽसौ न ददाति गाम् । शापो मया विसृष्टोऽस्मै गोपालो भव मानुषे ॥ ५ ॥ भार्ये द्वे अपि तत्रैव भवेतां चातिदुःखिते । यतो वत्सा रुदन्त्यत्र मातृहीनाः सुदुःखिताः ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

“O Glorious One! Maharṣi Kaśyapa is now almost infatuated with his sacrifice; and though I have tried all my means, he is not returning me my cow. I could not hear the pitiful cries and wailings of the calves or bereavement from their mother; and I cursed Kaśyapa saying ‘You would go down and take birth in the human world as a cow-herd; and your two wives also are to go there as human mortals, suffering under the greatest difficulties and dangers.

Ch 3 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मृतवत्सादितिस्तस्माद्भविष्यति धरातले । कारागारनिवासा च तेनापि बहुदुःखिता ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

O Brāhmaṇa! On seeing the distressed condition of the calves I cursed Aditi a second time that she would be put to prison, her children would be still born, and she would suffer lots of troubles.

Ch 3 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य यादोनाथस्य पद्मभूः । समाहूय मुनिं तत्र तमुवाच प्रजापतिः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

O Janamejaya! Hearing this, the Lotus-born Brahmā called Kaśyapa before him and asked.

Ch 3 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कस्मात्त्वया महाभाग लोकपालस्य धेनवः । हृताः पुनर्न दत्ताश्च किमन्यायं करोषि च ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

O Fortunate One! Why have you stolen away all the cows of the Varuṇa Deva, the Guardian of a quarter of the world? And why have you committed an offence in not returning the cows to Him?

Ch 3 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जानन् न्यायं महाभाग परवित्तापहारणम् । कृतवान्कथमन्यायं सर्वज्ञोऽसि महामते ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Bhagavān! You are intelligent, you know everything fully; knowing that it is a sin to steal other’s property, why have you committed the unlawful act of stealing away the cows.

Ch 3 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अहो लोभस्य महिमा महतोऽपि न मुञ्चति । लोभं नरकदं नूनं पापाकरमसम्मतम् ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

Oh! What is the wonderful influence of covetousness! Even those that are great are not free from the clutches of greed. Covetousness is the source of all sins, is unapproved by the Sages and leads to hell.

Ch 3 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कश्यपोऽपि न तं त्यक्तुं समर्थः किं करोम्यहम् । सर्वदैवाधिकस्तस्माल्लोभो वै कलितो मया ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

Lo! Maharṣi Kaśyapa is not able to leave this vicious habit even now; what shall I do? I will hence count greed as more powerful than even Fate, the Ruler of all destinies.

Ch 3 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धन्यास्ते मुनयः शान्ता जितो यैर्लोभ एव च । वैखानसैः शमपरैः प्रतिग्रहपराङ्मुखैः ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

Blessed are those saints that have devoted themselves wholly to the attainment of peace, who are tranquil-hearted, lead a hermit life and don’t ask themselves of any thing from any body. Verily those are blessed.

Ch 3 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

संसारे बलवाञ्छत्रुर्लोभोऽमेध्योऽवरः सदा । कश्यपोऽपि दुराचारः कृतस्नेहो दुरात्मना ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

This covetousness is a powerful enemy; it is always unholy and odious. See! Its influence has overpowered the Maharṣi Kaśyapa and has tied him down to an ordinary affection and has urged him to commit a sinful act.

Ch 3 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मापि तं शशापाथ कश्यपं मुनिसत्तमम् । मर्यादारक्षणार्थं हि पौत्रं परमवल्लभम् ॥ १५ ॥ अंशेन त्वं पृथिव्यां वै प्राप्य जन्म यदोः कुले । भार्याभ्यां संयुतस्तत्र गोपालत्वं करिष्यसि ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Then the Prajāpati Brahmā, to preserve and keep the prestige in the name of Justice and Religion, cursed his own very dear grandson Kaśyapa, the best of the Munis, and said :-- Go to the earth in your Aṃśa, and take your birth in the Yadu clan, be united with your wives and work as a Cowherd.

Ch 3 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । एवं शप्तः कश्यपोऽसौ वरुणेन च ब्रह्मणा । अंशावतरणार्थाय भूभारहरणाय च ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Thus was cursed the Maharṣi Kaśyapa by Brahmā and Varuṇa to come down to the earth as Amsā Vatāra to relieve the earth of her burden.

Ch 3 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथा दित्यादितिः शप्ता शोकसन्तप्तया भृशम् । जाता जाता विनश्येरंस्तव पुत्रास्तु सप्त वै ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

Diti, too, becoming grieved much with sorrows, cursed Aditi that seven of her sons would be killed consecutively after their births.

Ch 3 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जनमेजय उवाच । कस्माद्दित्या च भगिनी शप्तेन्द्रजननी मुने । कारणं वद शापे च शोकस्तु मुनिसत्तम ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

Janamejaya said :-- O best of Munis! Why was it that Diti so cruelly cursed his sister Aditi, the mother of Indra? Kindly explain to me the cause of this and oblige. I am sorry to hear of this curse.

Ch 3 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सूत उवाच । पारीक्षितेन पृष्टस्तु व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । राजानं प्रत्युवाचेदं कारणं सुसमाहितः ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Sūta said :-- Thus asked by the son of Parikṣit, Vyāsa, the son of Satyabatī, himself replied to the king about their causes in the following words :--

Ch 3 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । राजन् दक्षसुते द्वे तु दितिश्चादितिरुत्तमे । कश्यपस्य प्रिये भार्ये बभूवतुरुरुक्रमे ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Dakṣa Prajāpati had two daughters, Diti and Aditi; these two, of high rank, were married to Kaśyapa; and they were his favourites.

Ch 3 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अदित्यां मघवा पुत्रो यदाभूदतिवीर्यवान् । तदा तु तादृशं पुत्रं चकमे दितिरोजसा ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Aditi gave birth to the very powerful Indra, the king of the Devas. Diti, too, asked for a son of the same strength, prowess, and splendour as those of Indra.

Ch 3 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पतिमाहासितापाङ्गी पुत्रं मे देहि मानद । इन्द्रख्यबलं वीरं धर्मिष्ठं वीर्यवत्तमम् ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Diti, of beautiful dark blue eyes, entreated to her husband and said, “Give me a son, O giver of due respects to every body! who shall be a hero as strong as Indra, religious and of indomitable energy.”

Ch 3 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तामुवाच मुनिः कान्ते स्वस्था भव मयोदिते । व्रतान्ते भविता तुभ्यं शतक्रतुसमः सुतः ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

The Muni said to her :-- O Dear! Be peaceful; I advise you to take a vow, practise a rite, and when the period of your practice will be over, you will get a son like Indra.

Ch 3 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सा तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य चकार व्रतमुत्तमम् । निषिक्तं मुनिना गर्भं बिभ्राणा सुमनोहरम् ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Diti promised to act according to his word and took an oath; and when she practised the vow, Maharṣi Kaśyapa impregnated the seed in her womb. Diti also bore the seed in her womb according to the usual rite.

Ch 3 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भूमौ चकार शयनं पयोव्रतपरायणा । पवित्रा धारणायुक्ता बभूव वरवर्णिनी ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

The excellent fair complexioned Diti remained sacred, observed all the rules and, deeply intent on her vow, subsisted only on milk and slept or the ground.

Ch 3 Verse 27-28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं जातः सुसम्पूर्णो यदा गर्भोऽतिवीर्यवान् । शुभ्रांशुमतिदीप्ताङ्गीं दितिं दृष्ट्वा तु दुःखिता ॥ २७ ॥ मघवत्सदृशः पुत्रो भविष्यति महाबलः । दित्यास्तदा मम सुतस्तेजोहीनो भवेत्किल ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Thus when the foetus was fully developed, Diti began to look white and full of splendour. On seeing her thus, Aditi became anxious and thought if there be born of Diti a son like the powerful Indra, then my son will no doubt be deprived of his brilliancy and splendour.

Ch 3 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति चिन्तापरा पुत्रमिन्द्रं चोवाच मानिनी । शत्रुस्तेऽद्य समुत्पन्नो दितिगर्भेऽतिवीर्यवान् ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

The proud Aditi, thinking thus, said to Indra :-- O Son! There, in the womb of Diti, is your powerful enemy.

Ch 3 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उपायं कुरु नाशाय शत्रोरद्य विचिन्त्य च । उत्पत्तिरेव हन्तव्या दित्या गर्भस्य शोभन ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

O Beautiful One! Even now think out how you can kill your enemy. Before the child is born of the womb, try to destroy it.

Ch 3 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वीक्ष्य तामसितापाङ्गीं सपत्नीभावमास्थिताम् । दुनोति हृदये चिन्ता सुखमर्मविनाशिनी ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

Since the time I have looked, on my co-wife Diti, of beautiful eyes and proud, this is the one and only thought that troubles the peace in the innermost of my hearts.

Ch 3 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजयक्ष्मेव संवृद्धो नष्टो नैव भवेद्रिपुः । तस्मादङ्कुरितं हन्याद्बुद्धिमानहितं किल ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

The enemy, if he firmly gets hold like a fully developed consumption, cannot be killed; therefore the intelligent persons should destroy the enemies, when they are in their buds.

Ch 3 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

लोहशङ्कुरिव क्षिप्तो गर्भो वै हृदये मम । येन केनाप्युपायेन पातयाद्य शतक्रतो ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

O Śatakratu! My heart is being pierced wholly by an iron spoke when I see the womb of Diti; kill it by any means you can!

Ch 3 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सामदानबलेनापि हिंसनीयस्त्वया सुतः । दित्या गर्भो महाभाग मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम् ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

O High minded One! If you like my welfare, then destroy the foetus, in the womb of Diti, by any of the existent means, Sāma, Dāna or strength and thus remove the cause of grief in my heart.

Ch 3 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । श्रुत्वा मातृवचः शक्रो विचिन्त्य मनसा ततः । जगामापरमातुः स समीपममराधिपः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- On hearing his mother, Indra, the King of the Immortals, thought over all the means and went then to his step-mother Diti.

Ch 3 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ववन्दे विनयात्पादौ दित्याः पापमतिर्नृप । प्रोवाच विनयेनासौ मधुरं विषगर्भितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

That evil minded Indra bowed down at the foot of Diti with humility and addressed her with words, sweet but full of poison.

Ch 3 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्द्र उवाच । मातस्त्वं व्रतयुक्तासि क्षीणदेहातिदुर्बला । सेवार्थमिह सम्प्राप्तः किं कर्तव्यं वदस्व मे ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

O mother! You have become very weak, lean and thin in the practise your vow. I have come to serve you; order me now what I can do for you.

Ch 3 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पादसंवाहनं तेऽहं करिष्यामि पतिव्रते । गुरुशुश्रूषणात्पुण्यं लभते गतिमक्षयाम् ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

O chaste one to your husband! I want to shampoo your feet. To serve one’s Guru means to earn righteousness and immortality.

Ch 3 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न मे किमपि भेदोऽस्ति तथादित्या शपे किल । इत्युक्त्वा चरणौ स्पृष्टा संवाहनपरोऽभवत् ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

O mother! I swear, on oath, I don’t make any difference between you and my mother Aditi. Saying thus, he touched her feet and began to shampoo her legs.

Ch 3 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

संवाहनसुखं प्राप्य निद्रामाप सुलोचना । श्रान्ता व्रतकृशा सुप्ता विश्वस्ता परमा सती ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

The beautiful eyed Diti, tired of the vow, lean and thin, thus being shampooed and having full faith in Indra’s words, fell to deep sleep.

Ch 3 Verse 41-42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तां निद्रावशमापन्नां विलोक्य प्राविशत्तनुम् । रूपं कृत्वातिसूक्ष्मञ्च शस्त्रपाणिः समाहितः ॥ ४१ ॥ उदरं प्रविवेशाशु तस्या योगबलेन वै । गर्भं चकर्त वज्रेण सप्तधा पविनायकः ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

Seeing her asleep, Indra, with thunderbolt in his hand, took subtle form and by the influence of his yogic power, entered carefully into her womb quickly and cut asunder the foetus in the womb into seven parts.

Ch 3 Verse 43-44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रुरोद च तदा बालो वज्रेणाभिहतस्तथा । मा रुदेति शनैर्वाक्यमुवाच मघवानमुम् ॥ ४३ ॥ शकलानि पुनः सप्त सप्तधा कर्तितानि च । तदा चैकोनपञ्चाशन्मरुतश्चाभवन्नृप ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

The child in the womb, struck by the thunder bolt, cried out. Indra spoke to the child gently :-- “Do not cry,” and in the mean while cut each of the seven parts into seven parts again. Thus, O king! The forty-nine Maruts were born.

Ch 3 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदा प्रबुद्धा सुदती ज्ञात्वा गर्भं तथाकृतम् । इन्द्रेण छलरूपेण चुकोप भृशदुःखिता ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

When the good natured Diti awoke, she came to know that Indra has treacherously cut the foetus in her womb and became very sorry and angry.

Ch 3 Verse 46-47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भगिनीकृतं तु सा बुद्ध्वा शशाप कुपिता तदा । अदितिं मघवन्तञ्च सत्यव्रतपरायणा ॥ ४६ ॥ यथा मे कर्तितो गर्भस्तव पुत्रेण छद्मना । तथा तन्नाशमायातु राज्यं त्रिभुवनस्य तु ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

Knowing that all these treacherous acts are really done under the advice of her sister, the truthful Diti; who was under the vow, cursed Aditi, and Indra, saying that as her son Indra has treacherously cut the foetus in her womb, Indra’s kingdom over the three worlds would be destroyed.

Ch 3 Verse 48-49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यथा गुप्तेन पापेन मम गर्भो निपातितः । अदित्या पापचारिण्या यथा मे घातितः सुतः ॥ ४८ ॥ तस्याः पुत्रास्तु नश्यन्तु जाता जाताः पुनः पुनः । कारागारे वसत्वेषा पुत्रशोकातुरा भृशम् ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

And as the sinful Aditi has secretly caused the destruction of my son, her sons, too, would also die after their birth consecutively and she would dwell in the prison house in much trouble and anxiety and would also bear still born sons in her next birth.

Ch 3 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यजन्मनि चाप्येव मृतापत्या भविष्यति । व्यास उवाच । इत्युत्सृष्टं तदा श्रुत्वा शापं मरीचिनन्दनः ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Maharṣi Kaśyapa, the son of Marīci, hearing the curse, allayed her anger with loving words.

Ch 3 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उवाच प्रणयोपेतो वचनं शमयन्निव । मा कोपं कुरु कल्याणि पुत्रास्ते बलवत्तराः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

O Blessed One! Do not be angry. Your sons would all become very powerful and would be called Maruts. They would be companions and friends to Indra.

Ch 3 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भविष्यन्ति सुराः सर्वे मरुतो मघवत्सखाः । शापोऽयं तव वामोरु त्वष्टाविंशेऽथ द्वापरे ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

O Dear! Your curse won’t be fruitless; in the 28th Manvantara, at the end of the Dvāpara Yuga, your curse will bear fruit. Then Aditi, sinful for her jealousy and anger, will go down on earth to take the human birth through her Amsa (part) and suffer according to your curse.

Ch 3 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अंशेन मानुषं जन्म प्राप्य भोक्ष्यति भामिनी । वरुणेनापि दत्तोऽस्ति शापः सन्तापितेन च ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

Varuṇa, too, had become very grieved and cursed her. And, due to both these curses, this Aditi will be born as a woman.

Ch 3 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उभयोः शापयोगेन मानुषीयं भविष्यति । व्यास उवाच । पतिनाश्वासिता देवी सन्तुष्टा साभवत्तदा ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

O King! The fair complexioned Diti, thus consoled by her husband, became glad and did not utter any more unpleasant words.

Ch 3 Verse 55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोवाच विप्रियं किञ्चित्ततः सा वरवर्णिनी । इति ते कथितं राजन् पूर्वशापस्य कारणम् ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

O king! Thus I have narrated to you the cause of the previous curse. O best of kings! Thus Aditi was born as Devakī out of her Aṃśa.

Ch 3 Verse 56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अदितिर्देवकी जाता स्वांशेन नृपसत्तम ॥ ५६ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां चतुर्थस्कन्धे दित्या अदित्यै शापदानं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः ॥ ४.३॥

English Translation

Here ends the third Chapter of the Fourth Book of the Mahā Purāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses on the former curse of Vasudeva and Devakī by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.