King Ila's Transformation in Shiva's Forest

Shloka 1 (uttara.87.1)

तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणेनोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन्राघवो वचः ।। ७.८७.१ ।।

tac chrutvā lakṣmaṇenoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ prahasan rāghavo vacaḥ || 7.87.1 ||

Hearing this speech of Lakshmana's, the eloquent and mighty Raghava replied, smiling, with these words.

Shloka 2 (uttara.87.2)

एवमेव नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । वृत्रघातमशेषेण वाजिमेधफलं च यत् ।। ७.८७.२ ।।

evam eva naraśreṣṭha yathā vadasi lakṣmaṇa | vṛtraghātam aśeṣeṇa vājimedhaphalaṃ ca yat || 7.87.2 ||

"It is exactly so, best of men, Lakshmana, as you have told, in full, the slaying of Vritra and the fruit of the horse-sacrifice."

Shloka 3 (uttara.87.3)

श्रूयते हि पुरा सौम्य कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । पुत्रो बाह्लीश्वरः श्रीमानिलो नाम महाशयाः ।। ७.८७.३ ।।

śrūyate hi purā saumya kardamasya prajāpateḥ | putro bāhlīśvaraḥ śrīmān ilo nāma mahāśayaḥ || 7.87.3 ||

"It is heard, gentle one, that of old there was a son of the Lord of Creatures Kardama, the illustrious lord of Bahli, magnanimous, named Ila."

Shloka 4 (uttara.87.4)

स राजा पृथिवीं सर्वां वशे कृत्वा सुधार्मिकः । राज्यं चैव नरव्याघ्र पुत्रवत्पर्यपालयत् ।। ७.८७.४ ।।

sa rājā pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ vaśe kṛtvā sudhārmikaḥ | rājyaṃ caiva naravyāghra putravat paryapālayat || 7.87.4 ||

That most righteous king, tiger among men, having brought the whole earth under his sway, protected his kingdom as if it were his own child.

Shloka 5 (uttara.87.5)

सुरैश्च परमोदारैर्दैतेयैश्च महाधनैः । नागराक्षसगन्धर्वैर्यक्षैश्च सुमहात्मभिः ।। ७.८७.५ ।।

suraiś ca paramodārair daiteyaiś ca mahādhanaiḥ | nāgarākṣasagandharvair yakṣaiś ca sumahātmabhiḥ || 7.87.5 ||

By the most generous gods, the wealthy Daityas, by Nagas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, and the great-souled Yakshas —

Shloka 6 (uttara.87.6)

पूज्यते नित्यशः सौम्य भयार्तै रघुनन्दन । अबिभ्यंश्च त्रयो लोकाः सरोषस्य महात्मनः ।। ७.८७.६ ।।

pūjyate nityaśaḥ saumya bhayārtai raghunandana | abibhyaṃś ca trayo lokāḥ saroṣasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.87.6 ||

— he was ever honored, gentle joy of the Raghus, and, fearing his wrath, the three worlds went in dread of that great soul.

Shloka 7 (uttara.87.7)

स राजा तादृशो ह्यासीद्धर्मे वीर्ये च निष्ठितः । बुद्ध्या च परमोदारो बाह्लीकेशो महायशाः ।। ७.८७.७ ।।

sa rājā tādṛśo hy āsīd dharme vīrye ca niṣṭhitaḥ | buddhyā ca paramodāro bāhlīkeśo mahāyaśāḥ || 7.87.7 ||

Such was that king, the lord of the Bahlikas — steadfast in righteousness and valor, most noble in wisdom, and greatly renowned.

Shloka 8 (uttara.87.8)

स प्रचक्रे महाबाहुर्मृगयां रुचिरे वने । चैत्रे मनोरमे मासि सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। ७.८७.८ ।।

sa pracakre mahābāhur mṛgayāṃ rucire vane | caitre manorame māsi sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.87.8 ||

That mighty-armed king, in the delightful month of Chaitra, went hunting in a lovely forest, together with his attendants, army, and mounts.

Shloka 9 (uttara.87.9)

प्रजघ्ने च नृपो ऽरण्ये मृगाञ्छतसहस्रशः । हत्वैव तृप्तिर्नाभूच्च राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। ७.८७.९ ।।

prajaghne ca nṛpo 'raṇye mṛgāñ chatasahasraśaḥ | hatvaiva tṛptir nābhūc ca rājñas tasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.87.9 ||

The king slew deer in the forest by the hundreds and thousands, yet even in the killing that great-souled king found no satisfaction.

Shloka 10 (uttara.87.10)

नानामृगाणामयुतं वध्यमानं महात्मना । यत्र जातो माहासेनस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे ।। ७.८७.१० ।।

nānāmṛgāṇām ayutaṃ vadhyamānaṃ mahātmanā | yatra jāto mahāsenas taṃ deśam upacakrame || 7.87.10 ||

As countless deer of many kinds were slain by that great one, he advanced toward the region where Mahasena (Kartikeya) had been born.

Shloka 11 (uttara.87.11)

तस्मिन्प्रदेशे देवेश शैलराजसुतां हरः । रमयामास दुर्धर्षः सर्वैरनुचरैः सह ।। ७.८७.११ ।।

tasmin pradeśe deveśa śailarājasutāṃ haraḥ | ramayām āsa durdharṣaḥ sarvair anucaraiḥ saha || 7.87.11 ||

In that region, O lord among gods, the formidable Hara, together with all his attendants, was sporting with the daughter of the mountain-king.

Shloka 12 (uttara.87.12)

कृत्वा स्त्रीरूपमात्मानमुमेशो गोपतिध्वजः । देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षुः संस्तस्मिन्पर्वतनिर्झरे ।। ७.८७.१२ ।।

kṛtvā strīrūpam ātmānam umeśo gopatidhvajaḥ | devyāḥ priyacikīrṣuḥ san tasmin parvatanirjhare || 7.87.12 ||

Uma's lord, whose banner bears the bull, desiring to please the goddess, had there at that mountain torrent taken on a woman's form himself.

Shloka 13 (uttara.87.13)

ये तु तत्र वनोद्देशे सत्त्वाः पुरुषवादिनः । वृक्षाः पुरुषनामानस्ते ऽभवन् स्त्रीजनास्तदा ।। ७.८७.१३ ।।

ye tu tatra vanoddeśe sattvāḥ puruṣavādinaḥ | vṛkṣāḥ puruṣanāmānas te 'bhavan strījanās tadā || 7.87.13 ||

Whatever creatures there in that forest region were called by masculine terms, and whatever trees bore masculine names, all of them then became female.

Shloka 14 (uttara.87.14)

यच्च किञ्चन तत्सर्वं नारीसञ्ज्ञं बभूव ह । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजा स इलः कर्दमात्मजः । निघ्नन्मृगसहस्राणि तं देशमुपचक्रमे ।। ७.८७.१४ ।।

yac ca kiñcana tat sarvaṃ nārīsaṃjñaṃ babhūva ha | etasminn antare rājā sa ilaḥ kardamātmajaḥ | nighnan mṛgasahasrāṇi taṃ deśam upacakrame || 7.87.14 ||

And whatever else was there, all of it took on a feminine identity. Meanwhile King Ila, son of Kardama, slaying thousands of deer, arrived at that very region.

Shloka 15 (uttara.87.15)

स दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीकृतं सर्वं सव्यालमृगपक्षकम् । आत्मनं स्त्रीकृतं चैव सानुगं रघुनन्दन ।। ७.८७.१५ ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā strīkṛtaṃ sarvaṃ savyālamṛgapakṣakam | ātmānaṃ strīkṛtaṃ caiva sānugaṃ raghunandana || 7.87.15 ||

Seeing everything — even the serpents, deer, and birds — turned female, joy of the Raghus, he found himself, together with his followers, likewise transformed into a woman.

Shloka 16 (uttara.87.16)

तस्य दुःखं महच्चासीद्दृष्ट्वा ऽ ऽत्मानं तथागतम् । उमापतेश्च तत्कर्म ज्ञात्वा त्रासमुपागमत् ।। ७.८७.१६ ।।

tasya duḥkhaṃ mahac cāsīd dṛṣṭvātmānaṃ tathāgatam | umāpateś ca tat karma jñātvā trāsam upāgamat || 7.87.16 ||

Seeing himself so transformed, he was struck with great sorrow, and, learning that this was the doing of Uma's lord, he was overcome with dread.

Shloka 17 (uttara.87.17)

ततो देवं महात्मानं शितिकण्ठं कपर्दिनम् । जगाम शरणं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। ७.८७.१७ ।।

tato devaṃ mahātmānaṃ śitikaṇṭhaṃ kapardinam | jagāma śaraṇaṃ rājā sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.87.17 ||

Then the king, together with his attendants, army, and mounts, went for refuge to that great god of the blue throat, wearer of matted locks.

Shloka 18 (uttara.87.18)

ततः प्रहस्य वरदः सह देव्या महेश्वरः । प्रजापतिसुतं वाक्यमुवाच वरदः स्वयम् ।। ७.८७.१८ ।।

tataḥ prahasya varadaḥ saha devyā maheśvaraḥ | prajāpatisutaṃ vākyam uvāca varadaḥ svayam || 7.87.18 ||

Then Maheshvara, the boon-giver, laughing together with the goddess, himself spoke these words to the son of the Lord of Creatures.

Shloka 19 (uttara.87.19)

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे कार्दमेय महाबल । पुरुषत्वमृते सौम्य वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। ७.८७.१९ ।।

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājarṣe kārdameya mahābala | puruṣatvam ṛte saumya varaṃ varaya suvrata || 7.87.19 ||

"Arise, arise, royal sage, son of Kardama, mighty one! Ask for any boon you wish, gentle one of good vows — except manhood."

Shloka 20 (uttara.87.20)

ततः स राजा दुःखार्तः प्रत्याख्यातो महात्मना । न च जग्राह स्त्रीभूतो वरमन्यं सुरोत्तमात् ।। ७.८७.२० ।।

tataḥ sa rājā duḥkhārtaḥ pratyākhyāto mahātmanā | na ca jagrāha strībhūto varam anyaṃ surottamāt || 7.87.20 ||

Then that king, stricken with grief and refused by the great god, now become a woman, would not accept any other boon from that greatest of gods.

Shloka 21 (uttara.87.21)

ततः शोकेन महता शैलराजसुतां नृपः । प्रणिपत्य ह्युमां देवीं सर्वेणैवान्तरात्मना ।। ७.८७.२१ ।।

tataḥ śokena mahatā śailarājasutāṃ nṛpaḥ | praṇipatya hy umāṃ devīṃ sarveṇaivāntarātmanā || 7.87.21 ||

Then, overwhelmed with great sorrow, the king bowed down before the goddess Uma, daughter of the mountain-king, with his whole inner being.

Shloka 22 (uttara.87.22)

ईशे वराणां वरदे लोकानामसि भामिनी । अमोघदर्शने देवी भज सौम्येन चक्षुषा ।। ७.८७.२२ ।।

īśe varāṇāṃ varade lokānām asi bhāminī | amoghadarśane devi bhaja saumyena cakṣuṣā || 7.87.22 ||

"O radiant one, you are the mistress of boons, the giver of boons to all the worlds. O goddess whose glance never fails, favor me with a gentle look."

Shloka 23 (uttara.87.23)

हृद्गतं तस्य राजर्षेर्विज्ञाय हरसन्निधौ । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यं देवी रुद्रस्य संमता ।। ७.८७.२३ ।।

hṛdgataṃ tasya rājarṣer vijñāya harasannidhau | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ devī rudrasya sammatā || 7.87.23 ||

Understanding what lay in the heart of that royal sage, there in Hara's presence, the goddess beloved of Rudra spoke this gracious reply.

Shloka 24 (uttara.87.24)

अर्धस्य देवो वरदो वरार्धस्य तव ह्यहम् । तस्मादर्धं गृहाण त्वं स्त्रीपुंसोर्यावदिच्छसि ।। ७.८७.२४ ।।

ardhasya devo varado varārdhasya tava hy aham | tasmād ardhaṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ strīpuṃsor yāvad icchasi || 7.87.24 ||

"The god grants half the boon, and I am the giver of the other half. Therefore take, as you wish, half of either — womanhood or manhood."

Shloka 25 (uttara.87.25)

तदद्भुततरं श्रुत्वा देव्या वरमनुत्तमम् । सम्प्रहृष्टमना भूत्वा राजा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ७.८७.२५ ।।

tad adbhutataraṃ śrutvā devyā varam anuttamam | samprahṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā rājā vākyam athābravīt || 7.87.25 ||

Hearing this most wondrous and supreme boon from the goddess, the king, his heart filled with joy, then spoke these words.

Shloka 26 (uttara.87.26)

यदि देवि प्रसन्ना मे रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । मासं स्त्रीत्वमुपासित्वा मासं स्यां पुरुषः पुनः ।। ७.८७.२६ ।।

yadi devi prasannā me rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi | māsaṃ strītvam upāsitvā māsaṃ syāṃ puruṣaḥ punaḥ || 7.87.26 ||

"If you are pleased with me, goddess unmatched in beauty on earth, then let me, having dwelt one month as a woman, become a man again for a month."

Shloka 27 (uttara.87.27)

ईप्सितं तस्य विज्ञाय देवी सुरुचिरानना । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यमेवमेव भविष्यति ।। ७.८७.२७ ।।

īpsitaṃ tasya vijñāya devī suruciraānanā | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyam evam eva bhaviṣyati || 7.87.27 ||

Learning his desire, the lovely-faced goddess replied with this gracious word: "So shall it be."

Shloka 28 (uttara.87.28)

राजन्पुरुषभूतस्त्वं स्त्रीभावं न स्मरिष्यसि । स्त्रीभूतश्च परं मासं न स्मरिष्यसि पौरुषम् ।। ७.८७.२८ ।।

rājan puruṣabhūtas tvaṃ strībhāvaṃ na smariṣyasi | strībhūtaś ca paraṃ māsaṃ na smariṣyasi pauruṣam || 7.87.28 ||

"O king, when you are male, you shall not remember your womanhood, and, become a woman the following month, you shall not remember your manhood."

Shloka 29 (uttara.87.29)

एवं स राजा पुरुषो मासं भूत्वाथ कार्दमिः । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी नारी मासमेकमिला ऽभवत् ।। ७.८७.२९ ।।

evaṃ sa rājā puruṣo māsaṃ bhūtvātha kārdamiḥ | trailokyasundarī nārī māsam ekam ilābhavat || 7.87.29 ||

Thus that king, Kardama's son, remained a man for one month, and then for one month became the woman Ila, most beautiful in the three worlds.