# दिति (diti)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/diti

दिति (diti) is a Sanskrit word meaning the name of a deity, cutting, splitting, or dividing, distributing, liberality, name of a king, cutting or dividing, a wife of Kashyapa and mother of the Daityas. Its 22 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them Goddess Diti, mother of Daityas/Asuras, Distribution, liberality, A King or Prince.

- **Etymology:** E. दो to cut, affix क्तिन् — E. do to cut, affix ktin
- **SLP1:** `diti`  **IAST:** diti  **Devanagari:** दिति
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diti
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/diti/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** दीति (dīti)

## Meanings by context

### Goddess Diti, mother of Daityas/Asuras (14 definitions)
- the name of a deity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 477,3] 1. दिति (diti) f. N. of a deity answering to A-diti ( q.v. ) as Sura to A-sura and without any distinct character, Atharva-veda (Title) vii, 7, 1 &c. Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title) xviii, 22 [ ID=92058 ]
- daughter of Daksha, wife of Kashyapa, and mother of the Daityas  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > in ep. daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa and mother of the Daityas (see s.v. ), MBh.; Hariv.; Pur. [ ID=92059 ]
- The Maruts are described as her progeny or derived from the embryo in her womb divided into pieces by Indra.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (the Maruts are also described as her progeny or derived from the embryo in her womb divided into pieces by Indra), Harivaṃśa (Title) 239; Rāmāyaṇa (Title) i, 46, i [ ID=92060 ]
- This entry contains a textual citation rather than a standalone definition.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > cf. Pañcatantra (Title) ii, 40. [ ID=92061 ]
- 1. A goddess. 2. A daughter of Daksha, wife of Kashyapa, and mother of the Daityas.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > [Printed book page 119-3 ] दिति (diti) 2. dí-ti, f. N. of a goddess (a word evolved from Aditi); C. a daughter of Dakṣa, wife of Kaśyapa, and mother of the Daityas. [ ID=9278 ]
- 1. A wife of Kashyapa and mother of the Daityas. 2. Cutting, splitting, or dividing. 3. A king or prince.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 408 ] दिति (diti) f. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) 1 One of the wives of KAŚYAPA, and mother of the Daityas or infernal race, opposed to the gods. 2 Cutting, splitting, dividing. m. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) A king, a prince. E. दो (do) to cut, affix क्तिन् (ktin). [ ID=18943 ]
- 1. Mother of the demons or cutting. 2. A king.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 362-b ] दिति (diti) ( तिः ) ((tiḥ)) 2. f. Mother of the demons; cutting. m. A king. [ ID=18416 ]
- 1. A wife of Kasyapa and mother of the Daityas. 2. Cutting or splitting. 3. A king or prince.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 340-a ] दिति (diti) f. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) 1. One of the wives of KASYAPA, and mother of the Daityas or infernal race, opposer of the gods. 2. Cutting, splitting, dividing. m. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) A king, a prince. E. दो (do) to cut, affix क्तिच् । (ktic.) [ ID=18928 ]
- One of the wives of Kasyapa and mother of the Daityas.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 0398-b ] दिति (diti) diti, f. One of the wives of Kaśyapa and mother of the Daityas, MBh. 1, 2520. [ ID=6457 ]
- Name of a goddess  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > 2 दिति (diti) f. N. of a goddess ( cf. अदिति (diti) (aditi) ). [ ID=13669 ]
- name of a deity without definite character  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 169-a ] díti, f. Diti, name of a deity without definite character, a mere pendant to aditi as sura to asura, and formed by popular Page169-b+ 50 etymology as sura from asura. [see aditi and daitya.] [ ID=1941 ]
- 1. Cutting or dividing. 2. Liberality. 3. Name of a divine female, daughter of Daksha, wife of Kashyapa, and mother of the Daityas. 4. Name of a king.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 0412-a ] दिति (diti) diti, is, f. (fr. rt. 3. dā or do ), cut- ting, splitting, dividing; distributing, liberality, (in this sense also fr. rt. 1. dā ); Liberality personified; ( is ), f., N. of a divine female, (probably a N. formed to answer to A-diti, as Sura to A-sura, and without any distinct character: in epic poetry Diti is a daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa; the race of Daityas or implacable enemies of the gods are described as her progeny or derived from her through her son Hiraṇya-kaśipu; but the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa I. 21, describes Indra as dividing the embryo in the womb of Diti, through fear of his future enemies, and forming the forty-nine Maruts from the divided pieces); ( is ), m., N. of a king; a king. —Diti-ja, as, m. ‘a son of Diti,’ a Daitya, an enemy of the gods. —Ditijārāti (°ja-ar°), is, m. ‘the enemy of Page0412-b+ 72 the Daityas,’ an epithet of Viṣṇu. —Diti-tanaya or diti-nandana or diti-suta, as, m. ‘a son of Diti,’ a Daitya. —Diti-rūpa-rākṣasī-vadha, as, m., N. of the twenty-first chapter of the Krīḍā- khaṇḍa or second part of the Gaṇeśa-Purāṇa. —Diti- śoka-praśama, as, m., N. of the sixth chapter of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa or second part of the Padma- Purāṇa. —Diti-sambodhana, am, n., N. of the ninth chapter of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa. [ ID=22331 ]
- The daughter of Daksha, wife of Kashyapa, and mother of the Daityas.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 255-2 ] Diti, the daughter of Dakṣa, the wife of Kaśyapa and mother of the Daityas. § 84 (Ādivaṃśāvatāraṇap.): I, 64, 2486 ( °eḥ putrāḥ, i.e. the Daityas).—§ 87 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 65, 2520 (daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa).—§ 89 (do.): I, 65, 2525 (mother of Hiraṇyakaśipu).—§ 130 (do.): I, 67, 2641 ( °eḥ putro Hiraṇyakaśipuḥ ).—§ 237 (Vaivāhikap.): I, 193, †7176 ( cakrāma Vajrīva D°eḥ suteṣu —i.e. the Daityas— sarvaiś ca devair ṛṣibhiś ca juṣṭaḥ ).— § 270 (Brahmasabhāv.): II, 11, 456 (in the palace of Brahmán).—§ 310 (Āranyakap.): III, 3 α, 155 ( °eḥ sutaḥ = Sūrya, but read with B. 'diteḥ suṭaḥ ).—§ 422 b (Naraka): III, 142, 10917 ( °eḥ sutaḥ, i.e. Naraka).—§ 441 (Nivātaka- vacayuddhap.): III, 165, †11909 ( sapta pūgān Diteḥ sutānāṃ, i.e. the Daityas, slain by Indra).—§ 444 (do.): III, 169, 12094 ( °eḥ putrāḥ, i.e. the Nivātakavacas).—§ 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 110, 3808 ( atra —i.e. in the west— devīṃ Ditim ātmaprasavadhāriṇīṃ | vigarbhām akarec Chakro yatra jāto Marudgaṇaḥ ).—§ 596 (Pratijñāp.): VII, 73, 2608 ( °eḥ puraṃ ).—§ 608 (Karṇap.): VIII, 68 κ, †3393 ( tava Kunti putro jāto Diter Viṣnur ivārihantā, but read 'diter with B.).—§ 664 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 207 ε, 7537 (eldest daughter of Dakṣa), 7545 (mother of the Asuras).— § 714 (Śukakṛtya): XII, 329, 12417 ( evam ete D°eḥ putrā Mārutāḥ paramādbhutāḥ, i.e. the winds; B. and Nīl. read 'diteḥ, but cf. V, 3808).—§ 719 b (Gautamī-lubdhaka-vyāla- Mṛtyu-Kāla-saṃv.): XIII, 1 α, 55 (PCR. has Aditi).— § 730 g (Upamanyu): XIII, 14 θ, 796 ( °eḥ sutān, i.e. the Daityas). [ ID=3623 ]
- A daughter of Daksha and wife of Kashyapa, and mother of the Daityas.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 2-087 ] Diti (I) — a daughter of Dakṣa, and wife of Kaśyapa. 1 Her sons generally known as Daityas. Mother of Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. 2 Mother of Dantavaktra by the sage's curse. 3 Her sons Prahlāda and Hari were devotees of Hari. 4 Always set her mind on truth; 5 daughter Simhikā; 5a (Ādity- Vā. P. ). Finding her sons slain by Hari to help Indra, she became enraged, and asked her husband to bless her with a child to kill Indra. The un- willing husband offered it on condition of her observing certain vows for 100 years. So she observed them and Indra came to assist her. One day he found her sleep- ing in an unorthodox posture and entering her womb cut the embryo into seven and then into 49 pieces; but at her request he gave all of them the status of gods, known as Maruts. 6 Impelled by passion and desire for children she approached her husband one evening for sexual intercourse. Kaśyapa said that it was the hour when Śivagaṇas moved about and for him, to offer the Śandhya -prayer. But she persisted and gained her object. She however requested to be redeemed of the sin. Kaśyapa Page2-088+ 34 remarked that since she approached him at the wrong time, her sons would have paiśāca-character and would be killed by Hari. For her penitence she was blessed with a righteous child among her grandsons. 7 Held the tejas in embryo for a hundred years when darkness enveloped all directions. The two door-keepers of Vaikuṇṭha cursed by seers for preventing them from having darsan of Hari were born as her two sons, when there were evil omens. 8 Prayed for another son. This was Vajrānga who on his birth accord- ing to her orders bound Indra. The latter was released on the mediation of Brahmā and Kaśyapa. 9 Mother of Daityas; a Mother Goddess to be worshipped in house and palace buildings 10 Yoganidrā addressed as; 11 sons of, in the seventh talam or Pātālam. 12 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. III. 14. 7; Vā. 66. 54; Vi. I. 15. 124, 140.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. VI. 6. 25; 18. 11; VII. 1. 39; Br. III. 3. 56; M. 6. 1-8; Vā. 67. 49.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. IX. 24. 37.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. VI. 18. 10.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. VII. 2. 61.] [ Footnote: 5a) Vā. 67. 60.] [ Footnote: 6) Bhā. VI. 18. 23-77; Br. I. 1. 112; ch. 5 (whole); 7. 465; IV. 9. 3; M. 6. 47; ch. 7 (whole); Vā. 67. 86, 135; Vi. I. 21. 30-41.] [ Footnote: 7) Bhā. III. 14 (whole).] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. VI. 15. 1-10; 16. 35; 17. 2-15.] [ Footnote: 9) M. 146. 18-55; 171. 29.] [ Footnote: 10) Ib. 171. 58; 179. 15; 251. 29; 253. 27; 268. 19.] [ Footnote: 11) Vi V. 2. 9.] [ Footnote: 12) Vā. 50. 43.] [ ID=5965 ]

### Distribution, liberality (3 definitions)
- distributing, liberality  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > distributing, liberality (also personified, cf. 1. दिति (diti) ), RV. [ ID=92071 ]
- 1. Distribution. 2. Liberality.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 119-2 ] दिति (diti) 1. dí-ti, f. distribution; liberality. [ ID=9277 ]
- distribution, liberality  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 225 ] 1 दिति (diti) f. distribution, liberality. [ ID=13668 ]

### A King or Prince (2 definitions)
- Name of a king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > दिति (diti) m. N. of a king, L. [ ID=92072 ]
- a king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a king, W. [ ID=92073 ]

### Act of cutting/splitting (2 definitions)
- cutting, splitting, or dividing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 477,3] 2. दिति (diti) f. cutting, splitting, dividing, L. [ ID=92070 ]
- 1. Cutting or splitting. 2. Liberality. 3. Name of a daughter of Daksha, wife of Kasyapa, and mother of the Rakshasas.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > दिति (diti) [Printed book page 331-21 ] दिति (diti) f. 1. Cutting, splitting; 2. liberality; 3. name of a daughter of Daksha, wife of Kaśyapa and mother of the Rākshasas. [ ID=16824 ]

### A Mauneya named Diti (1 definition)
- a Mauneya  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 2-088 ] Diti (II) — a Mauneya. Vā. 69. 2. [ ID=5966 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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