Taraka and Vajranga's Origin

Narada said

Disciple of Vishnu, great devotee of Shiva, Vidhatri, you have spoken well; this is the supreme account of Shiva and Shivaa. Brahma, who was the asura who oppressed the gods? Whose son was he? Tell me how he was connected with Shiva. How did Shankara, master of himself, reduce Smara to ashes? Tell me all this with affection. The lord's conduct is extraordinary. How did Shivaa, for the sake of happiness, undergo fierce austerities? How did the primordial Shakti, who is beyond the universe, win Shambhu as husband? Wise one, tell me all this specifically and in detail. My atman is in Shiva, I am full of devotion, and I am your own son.

Brahma replied

Noble son, wise divine rishi, praised for your vows, remembering Shankara I will tell you everything that happened. First hear Taraka's origin; the gods made great efforts to kill him and took refuge with Shiva. My son was the noble Marichi and his son Kashyapa. Kashyapa married thirteen of Daksha's daughters. Diti was the eldest of two of these wives, and she had two sons: the elder Hiranyakashipu and the younger Hiranyaksha. Vishnu killed these two daityas in the forms of Nrisimha and the boar. They had caused the gods great misery, and the gods were now happy and without fear. Diti was wretched and went to Kashyapa for refuge. Excellent in her vows, she served him devotedly and conceived again. Knowing it, great Indra, bold in enterprise, watched for an opening and found it. He entered her womb and cut the foetus again and again with his vajra, but by the power of her vows the foetus did not die. She was asleep at the time. By destiny, seven times seven sons were born. They became gods, all known as the Maruts. The king of the gods honoured them and took them with him to heaven. Diti, tormented by what she herself had done, served her husband again. Her supreme service greatly pleased the sage, and Kashyapa said: "Be pure and perform austerities for ten thousand of Brahma's years. After that you will have an unmatched son."

Sage, Diti devotedly finished those austerities, conceived by her husband and obtained the kind of son she wanted. Diti's son was like the immortals and was named Vajranga, and as his name suggests he was born brave, powerful and strong. Obeying his mother's instructions, the son at once seized the king of the gods by force and punished the gods in various ways. Seeing Shakra and the others in misery, Diti was glad. The immortals, Shakra and the rest, suffered because of what they themselves had done.

I am always engaged in the welfare of the gods. With Kashyapa I went quickly to him and spoke gently, persuading him to release the gods. Having freed them, Vajranga spoke to me affectionately; he was a devotee of Shiva, pure in his atman, indifferent and mild in his understanding. Vajranga said: "To serve his own ends, wicked Indra killed my mother's son, and has now reaped the fruit. Let him rule his own kingdom. Brahma, I did all this because of my mother's command. I have no wish to enjoy any worldly pleasure. Vidhatri, supreme among knowers of the Vedas, tell me their essence so that I may always be happy, indifferent and mild in understanding." Sage, hearing him I replied, "These words come from sattva. I will happily create a beautiful woman who is their essence." Her name was Varangi, and I gave her to Diti's son. Then, very happy, I went home, as did his father Kashyapa. The daitya Vajranga was full of sattva. He gave up asura ways, had no hatred and was happy. But Varangi's heart had no sattva. The virtuous woman was full of desire and served her husband devotedly in many ways, and her lord was soon satisfied with her service. Her husband Vajranga said to her: "Beloved, tell me what you desire. What is in your heart?" Hearing this, she bowed to her husband and told him her wish. Varangi said: "Virtuous husband, if you are pleased with me, give me a son who is very strong, a conqueror of the three worlds, and let him cause misery to Hari." Hearing his beloved, he was amazed and troubled. His heart was full of sattva, he had no hatred, and he answered with knowledge: "Beloved, you wish to be enemies with the gods. That does not appeal to me. What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I keep my pledge from being destroyed? If I grant my beloved's wish, the three worlds will suffer constantly, and the gods and sages too. But if I do not grant it, I will go to hell. Either way dharma is violated; so we have heard."

So, sage, Vajranga was whirled about in a conflict of dharma. With his intelligence he weighed the strengths and weaknesses of both courses. By Shiva's will the learned one told his wife he agreed with her. That is what the king of daityas told his beloved. To accomplish it he undertook extremely difficult, fierce austerities directed to me, cheerfully mastering his senses for many years. Dear one, by his great austerities I showed myself to him to give a boon. Pleased, I said, "Ask a boon." Vajranga was glad to see me, the lord, standing in the sky. He bowed, praised me in many ways, and asked the boon his beloved wanted. Vajranga said: "Lord, grant me a son who will bring great benefit to his mother, very strong and powerful, very capable and a store of austerity." Sage, hearing him, I said it would be so. Remembering Shiva, I returned to my own abode, though somewhat distracted.