Shloka 2

दितितपः-शक्रपरिचर्या-गर्भभेदः

Diti’s Penance, Indra’s Service, and the Severing of the Embryo

Devanagari script

हतपुत्राऽस्मि भगवंस्तव पुत्रैर्महाबलै:।शक्रहन्तारमिच्छामि पुत्रं दीर्घतपोऽर्जितम्।।1.46.2।।

Transliteration

hata-putrā'smi bhagavaṃs tava putrair mahābalaiḥ | śakra-hantāram icchāmi putraṃ dīrgha-tapo'rjitam || 1.46.2 ||

Translation

“ਹੇ ਭਗਵਨ, ਤੇਰੇ ਮਹਾਬਲੀ ਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ। ਮੈਂ ਲੰਮੇ ਤਪ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਐਸਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਜੋ ਸ਼ਕ੍ਰ ਇੰਦਰ ਦਾ ਵਧ ਕਰ ਸਕੇ।”

Word by Word

हतपुत्राone whose sons are slain

अस्मिI am

भगवन्O venerable one

तवyour

पुत्रैःby (your) sons

महाबलैःby the very powerful

शक्रहन्तारम्slayer of Indra

इच्छामिI desire

पुत्रम्a son

दीर्घतपःby long austerity

अर्जितम्obtained, won

Context

"I have seized the opportunity and severed into seven pieces the foetus who would have been a slayer of Indra. O Devi! shoudn't you forgive me"?ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ṣaṭcatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fortysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

Diti

Kaśyapa

Śakra (Indra)

Devas (implied by ‘your sons’)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse shows how grief can turn toward vengeance; dharma warns that retaliatory desire (even when understandable) can generate further adharma and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Diti, mourning her slain sons, petitions Kaśyapa for a powerful son who can kill Indra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austerity (tapas) is treated as a potent force, though here it is sought for a destructive aim—highlighting the need for dharmic intention behind spiritual power.