Sarga 46: Diti's Austerity and Indra's Deed
Diti Tapas
Grieving Diti undertakes a thousand-year penance for a son to slay Indra; Indra serves her faithfully, but catching her in a moment of impurity, enters her womb and splits the unborn child into seven pieces, who become the Maruts.
Jump to a shloka · 23 in this sarga
न हन्तव्यो न हन्तव्य इत्येवं दितिरब्रवीत्। निष्पपात ततश्शक्रो मातुर्वचनगौरवात्।।1.46.21।।
Meaning
Do not kill him, do not kill him, Diti cried; then Shakra emerged, out of respect for his mother's words.
प्राञ्जलिर्वज्रसहितो दितिं शक्रोऽभ्यभाषत। अशुचिर्देवि सुप्ताऽसि पादयो: कृतमूर्धजा।।1.46.22।।
Meaning
With joined palms, still holding his thunderbolt, Shakra spoke to Diti: goddess, you slept impure, your hair at your feet.
तदन्तरमहं लब्ध्वा शक्रहन्तारमाहवे। अभिदं सप्तधा देवि तन्मे त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि।।1.46.23।।
Meaning
Seizing that opening, I who would be slain by an Indra-killer in battle split him sevenfold, goddess; you should forgive me for this.