Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
Maitreya Muni now narrates the story of how the great demon Hiranyaksha, whom Lord Varaha would eventually have to fight, came into existence. The sage explains that understanding the origin of the demons who oppose the divine plan is important for comprehending the cosmic drama in which devotees and demons play their respective roles. The story begins with the great sage Kashyapa, one of Brahma's mind-born sons and a Prajapati responsible for creating various species of living beings. Kashyapa had many wives, daughters of Daksha, another son of Brahma. Among these wives were two sisters - Diti and Aditi. From Aditi would descend the devas, the celestial beings who serve the divine plan, while from Diti would descend the daityas, demons who oppose it.
One evening, as the sun was setting and the inauspicious twilight period was approaching, Diti was overcome by intense lusty desires for her husband Kashyapa. The sage was sitting in meditation, absorbed in spiritual practices and completely detached from material desires. However, Diti, burning with passion and unable to control herself, approached her husband and demanded that he satisfy her desires immediately. She pulled at his garments and spoke to him in alluring words, attempting to break his meditation and convince him to fulfill her wishes. Although Kashyapa was a great sage with complete control over his senses, he found himself in a difficult situation - to refuse his wife's request would be an improper rejection of his household duties, yet to fulfill it at such an inauspicious time would lead to disastrous consequences.
Kashyapa tried to gently dissuade Diti, explaining to her the various reasons why that particular time was extremely inauspicious for procreation. He pointed out that it was the evening twilight period, a time when ghosts and evil spirits roam freely and inauspicious influences are strong. He explained that the great Lord Shiva, accompanied by spirits and ghosts, was presently wandering through that very area with his wife Parvati. Most importantly, he reminded her that any child conceived during such an inauspicious time would possess demonic qualities and would become a source of disturbance to the universe. Kashyapa pleaded with his wife to wait just a few hours until a more auspicious time arrived. However, Diti was so overwhelmed by her lusty desires that she could not heed her husband's wise counsel. She insisted that he fulfill her wishes immediately, refusing to accept any delay.
Seeing his wife's determination and fearing that a complete refusal might cause her to curse him in her anger, Kashyapa reluctantly agreed to her demand. However, his heart was heavy with sorrow because he could foresee the consequences of this inauspicious union. After fulfilling his wife's desires, Kashyapa sat in deep meditation, filled with regret for having yielded to her inappropriate request. He knew that the child or children born from this union would be great demons who would disturb the peace of the three worlds and oppose the plans of the demigods. True to his prediction, Diti became pregnant with twins who would later be born as the demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, two of the most powerful and troublesome demons in cosmic history.
As Diti's pregnancy advanced and she realized the gravity of what she had done, her consciousness cleared somewhat from the fog of lust that had possessed her. She began to feel remorse for having forced her husband to act against his better judgment at such an inauspicious time. With tears in her eyes, she approached Kashyapa and confessed her fault, asking if there was any way to mitigate the consequences of her improper behavior. Kashyapa, being compassionate despite his disappointment, explained that while the demon sons would indeed be born and cause great disturbances in the universe, eventually they would be killed by incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Furthermore, he told her that if she maintained her pregnancy with proper spiritual practices, austerity, and devotion, a descendent of hers would eventually become a great devotee who would please the Supreme Lord. This descendent was Prahlada, the saintly son of Hiranyakashipu, who would become one of the most celebrated devotees in Vedic history.
The chapter concludes with important teachings about the consequences of acting under the influence of material desires and at inauspicious times. The story illustrates how even great personalities like Kashyapa can face impossible situations when their relatives act improperly. It demonstrates that lusty desires, when not controlled, can lead to actions with far-reaching negative consequences affecting not just the individuals involved but cosmic order itself. However, the story also shows the Lord's mercy - even from situations born of improper action, the Lord can arrange for eventual good results. The demons born from this union would serve the cosmic purpose of providing opposition that would allow the Lord to descend and demonstrate His supreme power, while their destruction would establish religious principles. Most importantly, from this demoniac lineage would come Prahlada, whose devotion would be so pure and powerful that it would inspire countless souls across all generations. This teaches that the Lord's plan is perfect even when working through imperfect circumstances, and that eventually, devotion to the Supreme Lord is the only force that can transform even the most inauspicious situations into opportunities for spiritual advancement.