Ila's Manhood Restored by the Ashwamedha

Shloka 1 (uttara.90.1)

तथोक्तवति रामे तु तस्य जन्म तदद्भुतम् । उवाच लक्ष्मणो भूयो भरतश्च महायशाः ।। ७.९०.१ ।।

tathoktavati rāme tu tasya janma tad adbhutam | uvāca lakṣmaṇo bhūyo bharataś ca mahāyaśāḥ || 7.90.1 ||

When Rama had thus told of that wondrous birth, the greatly renowned Lakshmana and Bharata spoke once more.

Shloka 2 (uttara.90.2)

इला सा सोमपुत्रस्य संवत्सरमथोषिता । अकरोत्किं नरश्रेष्ठ तत्त्वं शंसितुमर्हसि ।। ७.९०.२ ।।

ilā sā somaputrasya saṃvatsaram athoṣitā | akarot kiṃ naraśreṣṭha tat tvaṃ śaṃsitum arhasi || 7.90.2 ||

"Best of men, having dwelt a full year with Soma's son, what did that Ila do then? Please tell us this."

Shloka 3 (uttara.90.3)

तयोस्तद्वाक्यमाधुर्यं निशम्य परिपृच्छतोः । रामः पुनरुवाचेमां प्रजापतिसुते कथाम् ।। ७.९०.३ ।।

tayos tad vākyamādhuryaṃ niśamya paripṛcchatoḥ | rāmaḥ punar uvācemāṃ prajāpatisute kathām || 7.90.3 ||

Hearing the sweetness of their question, Rama went on once more to relate this tale of the son of the Lord of Creatures.

Shloka 4 (uttara.90.4)

पुरुषत्वं गते शूरे बुधः परमबुद्धिमान् । संवर्तं परमोदारमाजुहाव महायशाः ।। ७.९०.४ ।।

puruṣatvaṃ gate śūre budhaḥ paramabuddhimān | saṃvartaṃ paramodāram ājuhāva mahāyaśāḥ || 7.90.4 ||

When the hero had once more become a man, the most wise and greatly renowned Budha summoned the most noble sage Samvarta.

Shloka 5 (uttara.90.5)

च्यवनं भृगुपुत्रं च मुनिं चारिष्टनेमिनम् । प्रमोदनं मोदकरं ततो दुर्वाससं मुनिम् ।। ७.९०.५ ।।

cyavanaṃ bhṛguputraṃ ca muniṃ cāriṣṭaneminam | pramodanaṃ modakaraṃ tato durvāsasaṃ munim || 7.90.5 ||

— and Chyavana, son of Bhrigu, and the sage Arishtanemi, and joy-bringing Pramodana, and then the sage Durvasa.

Shloka 6 (uttara.90.6)

एतान्सर्वान्समानीय वाक्यज्ञस्तत्त्वदर्शनः । उवाच सर्वान्सुहृदो धैर्येण सुसमाहितान् ।। ७.९०.६ ।।

etān sarvān samānīya vākyajñas tattvadarśanaḥ | uvāca sarvān suhṛdo dhairyeṇa susamāhitān || 7.90.6 ||

Having gathered all of them together, that speaker of truth, seer of reality, addressed all these friends of his, who sat composed and steadfast.

Shloka 7 (uttara.90.7)

अयं राजा महाबाहुः कर्दमस्य इलः सुतः । जानीतैनं यथाभूतं श्रेयो ह्यत्र विधीयताम् ।। ७.९०.७ ।।

ayaṃ rājā mahābāhuḥ kardamasya ilaḥ sutaḥ | jānītainaṃ yathābhūtaṃ śreyo hy atra vidhīyatām || 7.90.7 ||

"This mighty-armed king is Ila, son of Kardama. Understand his true condition, and let whatever is best for him be arranged."

Shloka 8 (uttara.90.8)

तेषां संवदतामेव तमाश्रममुपागमत् । कर्दमस्तु महातेजा द्विजैः सह महात्मभिः ।। ७.९०.८ ।।

teṣāṃ saṃvadatām eva tam āśramam upāgamat | kardamas tu mahātejā dvijaiḥ saha mahātmabhiḥ || 7.90.8 ||

Even as they were conversing thus, the mighty and radiant Kardama himself arrived at that hermitage, together with other great-souled Brahmins.

Shloka 9 (uttara.90.9)

पुलस्त्यश्च क्रतुश्चैव वषट्कारस्तथैव च । ओङ्कारश्च महातेजास्तमाश्रममुपागमत् ।। ७.९०.९ ।।

pulastyaś ca kratuś caiva vaṣaṭkāras tathaiva ca | oṅkāraś ca mahātejās tam āśramam upāgaman || 7.90.9 ||

Pulastya, Kratu, Vashatkara, and the greatly radiant Omkara likewise arrived at that hermitage.

Shloka 10 (uttara.90.10)

ते सर्वे हृष्टमनसः परस्परसमागमे । हितैषिणो बाल्हिपतेः पृथग्वाक्यान्यथाब्रुवन् ।। ७.९०.१० ।।

te sarve hṛṣṭamanasaḥ parasparasamāgame | hitaiṣiṇo bālhipateḥ pṛthag vākyāny athābruvan || 7.90.10 ||

All of them, their hearts gladdened at meeting one another, wishing well for the lord of Bahli, spoke, each of them, their own separate counsel.

Shloka 11 (uttara.90.11)

कर्दमस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं सुतार्थं परमं हितम् । द्विजाः शृणुत मद्वाक्यं यच्छ्रेयः पार्थिवस्य हि ।। ७.९०.११ ।।

kardamas tv abravīd vākyaṃ sutārthaṃ paramaṃ hitam | dvijāḥ śṛṇuta madvākyaṃ yac chreyaḥ pārthivasya hi || 7.90.11 ||

Kardama then spoke words of supreme benefit for his son's sake: "Hear my words, O twice-born ones, as to what would truly benefit this king."

Shloka 12 (uttara.90.12)

नान्यं पश्यामि भैषज्यमन्तरा वृषभध्वजम् । नाश्वमेधात्परो यज्ञः प्रियश्चैव महात्मनः । तस्माद्यजामहे सर्वे पार्थिवार्थे दुरासदम् ।। ७.९०.१२ ।।

nānyaṃ paśyāmi bhaiṣajyam antarā vṛṣabhadhvajam | nāśvamedhāt paro yajñaḥ priyaś caiva mahātmanaḥ | tasmād yajāmahe sarve pārthivārthe durāsadam || 7.90.12 ||

"I see no remedy other than the bull-bannered god; nor is there any sacrifice dearer to that great one than the horse-sacrifice. Therefore let us all perform this formidable sacrifice for the king's sake."

Shloka 13 (uttara.90.13)

कर्दमेनैवमुक्तास्तु सर्व एव द्विजर्षभाः । रोचयन्ति स्म तं यज्ञं रुद्रस्याराधनं प्रति ।। ७.९०.१३ ।।

kardamenaivam uktās tu sarva eva dvijarṣabhāḥ | rocayanti sma taṃ yajñaṃ rudrasyārādhanaṃ prati || 7.90.13 ||

When Kardama had spoken thus, all those foremost Brahmins gave their approval to that sacrifice, for the propitiation of Rudra.

Shloka 14 (uttara.90.14)

संवर्तस्य तु राजर्षेः शिष्यः पुरपुरञ्जयः । मरुत्त इति विख्यातस्तं यज्ञं समुपाहरत् ।। ७.९०.१४ ।।

saṃvartasya tu rājarṣeḥ śiṣyaḥ purapurañjayaḥ | marutta iti vikhyātas taṃ yajñaṃ samupāharat || 7.90.14 ||

Then Samvarta's disciple, the royal sage renowned as Marutta, conqueror of cities, brought that sacrifice to completion.

Shloka 15 (uttara.90.15)

ततो यज्ञो महानासीद्बुधाश्रमसमीपतः । रुद्रश्च परमं तोषमाजगाम महायशाः ।। ७.९०.१५ ।।

tato yajño mahān āsīd budhāśramasamīpataḥ | rudraś ca paramaṃ toṣam ājagāma mahāyaśāḥ || 7.90.15 ||

Then that great sacrifice was held near Budha's hermitage, and the greatly renowned Rudra was filled with the deepest satisfaction.

Shloka 16 (uttara.90.16)

अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु प्रीतः परमया मुदा । उमापतिर्द्विजान्सर्वानुवाच इलसन्निधौ ।। ७.९०.१६ ।।

atha yajñe samāpte tu prītaḥ paramayā mudā | umāpatir dvijān sarvān uvāca ilasannidhau || 7.90.16 ||

When the sacrifice was concluded, Uma's lord, pleased with the greatest delight, spoke to all the Brahmins there in Ila's presence.

Shloka 17 (uttara.90.17)

प्रीतो ऽस्मि हयमेधेन भक्त्या च द्विजसत्तमाः । अस्य बाह्लिपतेश्चैव किं करोमि प्रियं शुभम् ।। ७.९०.१७ ।।

prīto 'smi hayamedhena bhaktyā ca dvijasattamāḥ | asya bāhlipateś caiva kiṃ karomi priyaṃ śubham || 7.90.17 ||

"I am pleased, O foremost of Brahmins, by this horse-sacrifice and by your devotion. What auspicious favor shall I grant to this lord of Bahli?"

Shloka 18 (uttara.90.18)

तथा वदति देवेशे द्विजास्ते सुसमाहिताः । प्रसादयन्ति देवेशं यथा स्यात्पुरुषस्त्विला ।। ७.९०.१८ ।।

tathā vadati deveśe dvijās te susamāhitāḥ | prasādayanti deveśaṃ yathā syāt puruṣas tv ilā || 7.90.18 ||

When the lord of gods had spoken thus, those composed Brahmins, entreating him, prayed that Ila might become a man once for all.

Shloka 19 (uttara.90.19)

ततः प्रीतो महादेवः पुरुषत्वं ददौ पुनः । इलायै सुमहातेजा दत्त्वा चान्तरधीयत ।। ७.९०.१९ ।।

tataḥ prīto mahādevaḥ puruṣatvaṃ dadau punaḥ | ilāyai sumahātejā dattvā cāntaradhīyata || 7.90.19 ||

Then, well pleased, the greatly radiant Mahadeva bestowed manhood once more upon Ila, and, having granted this, vanished from sight.

Shloka 20 (uttara.90.20)

निवृत्ते हयमेधे च गतश्चादर्शनं हरः । यथागतं द्विजाः सर्वे ह्यगच्छन्दीर्घदर्शिनः ।। ७.९०.२० ।।

nivṛtte hayamedhe ca gataś cādarśanaṃ haraḥ | yathāgataṃ dvijāḥ sarve hy agacchan dīrghadarśinaḥ || 7.90.20 ||

With the horse-sacrifice concluded and Hara passed from sight, all those far-seeing Brahmins departed the way they had come.

Shloka 21 (uttara.90.21)

राजा तु बाह्लिमुत्सृज्य मध्यदेशे ह्यनुत्तमम् । निवेशयामास पुरं प्रतिष्ठानं यशस्करम् ।। ७.९०.२१ ।।

rājā tu bāhlim utsṛjya madhyadeśe hy anuttamam | niveśayām āsa puraṃ pratiṣṭhānaṃ yaśaskaram || 7.90.21 ||

The king, giving up Bahli, then founded in the middle country a most excellent and glorious city, Pratishthana.

Shloka 22 (uttara.90.22)

शशबिन्दुश्च राजर्षिर्बाह्लिं पुरपुरञ्जयः । प्रतिष्ठाने इलो राजा प्रजापतिसुतो बली ।। ७.९०.२२ ।।

śaśabinduś ca rājarṣir bāhliṃ purapurañjayaḥ | pratiṣṭhāne ilo rājā prajāpatisuto balī || 7.90.22 ||

The royal sage Shashabindu, conqueror of cities, became king of Bahli; and the mighty Ila, son of the Lord of Creatures, became king of Pratishthana.

Shloka 23 (uttara.90.23)

स काले प्राप्तवाँल्लोकमिलो ब्राह्ममनुत्तमम् । ऐलः पुरूरवा राजा प्रतिष्ठानमवाप्तवान् ।। ७.९०.२३ ।।

sa kāle prāptavāṃl lokam ilo brāhmam anuttamam | ailaḥ purūravā rājā pratiṣṭhānam avāptavān || 7.90.23 ||

In time Ila attained the most excellent world of Brahma, and Pururavas, son of Ila, became king of Pratishthana.

Shloka 24 (uttara.90.24)

ईदृशो ह्यश्वमेधस्य प्रभावः पुरुषर्षभौ । स्त्रीभूतः पौरुषं लेभे यच्चान्यदपि दुर्लभम् ।। ७.९०.२४ ।।

īdṛśo hy aśvamedhasya prabhāvaḥ puruṣarṣabhau | strībhūtaḥ pauruṣaṃ lebhe yac cānyad api durlabham || 7.90.24 ||

"Such, O bulls among men, is the power of the horse-sacrifice: one who had become a woman regained manhood, and obtained other things hard to attain as well."