दशकम्-5 सुद्युम्नकथा 5 panchamadashakah' -sudyumnakathaa Dasakam 5 Story of Sudhymna

                      दशकम्-5 सुद्युम्नकथा

             5 panchamadashakah' -sudyumnakathaa

                Dasakam 5 Story of Sudhymna

(This story is related in the beginning of Chapter 12 of book

1 of Devi Bhagwatha which deals with the birth of

Pururuvas(son of Sudhyumna). It has been told there that

sage Vasishta told Sudhymna the story of the Goddess in

nine days and these nine days is later believed to have

become the Navarathri festival. In the second sloka of this

dasakam, there is a mention of Ilavrutha, the continent

created by Goddess Parvathi, where only females are there.

Any male entering there would become a female)

1.जाता सुतेळा मनुसप्तमस्य

संप्रार्त्थितोSनेन मुननर्िनसष्ठः

शम्ोः कटाक्षेण सुतां कुमारम्

चक्ेः स कालेन बभुर् राजा

jaataa sutelaa manusaptamasya

sampraarthito'nena munirvasisht'hah' .

shambhoh' kat'aakshena sutaam kumaaram

chakre sa kaalena babhoova raajaa .. 5-1..

1.For the seventh Manu, a daughter called Ila was born. As per his

prayers, sage Vasishta, by the grace of Lord Shiva, made that

daughter into a son. With the passing of time, he became a king.

A specific period of time is called manvantaram. In 1 kalpa there are

only 14 manvantaras. Kalpa means brahma’s day time i.e creation

time. The ruler of a manvantara is called manu. There are only 14

manvantaras so only 14 manus. The 7th manu’s (vivaswan i.e.sun) son

was shraadhadevan. He was also called vaivasvath manu.

 Vaivasvath manu wished a virtuous son be born to him. His kulaguru,

vashishta got ready to perform a yagnam for this. Manu’s wife said to

vashishta that she wanted a girl to be born. The yagnya was very

successful. A girl was born to manu. How did this happen manu

asked? He wanted a boy only. Understanding this vasishtha muni

prayed to Lord shiva.Due to the blessings of lord shiva and the

strength of the muni’s tapa, the princess turned into a prince. The

daughter was named Ila. When the princess was changed into a

prince a change in name also took place. Over a period of time he

became a king.

2.सुद्युम्ननामा मृगयानर्हारी

गतो हयारूढ इळार्ृतं सः

स्त्रीत्वं पुनः प्राप्य सुतं नहमां शोर्

र्व्रे पनतम् पुत्रमसू त चैषा

sudyumnanaamaa mri'gayaavihaaree

 gato hayaarood'ha ilaavri'tam sah' .

streetvam punah' praapya sutam himaamshor

vavre patim putramasoota chaishaa .. 5-2..

2. Once,he who was named as Sudhyumna went for hunting, riding

on a horse, reached a continent named Ilavritha. He once again

turned into a lady and chose the son of moon as her husband and

they both had a son.

We had earlier said that manu’s daughter had changed to a son, he

was known as sudhyumnan. One day he got on to horse and went

hunting. He was fascinated by the beautiful forest and entered the

forest ‘ilavrita’. He immediately changed into a woman and the horse

into a mare.there he fell in love with chandran’s son budhan and

begot a child who was called pururavas.

Once upon a time, wearing beautiful earrings, with extraordinary bow

named Ajagab and holding the arrow-case full of arrows on his back,

he went out on hunt to a forest, riding on a horse, Going about in the

regions of forest, the king got for this sikar, buck, hare, boar,

rhinoceros, bison, buffalo, young elephant, Srimar deer, wild fowl and

various other animals fit for sacrificial purposes; thus, he went on

deep into the interior of the forest.

This divine forest was adorned with rows of Mandara trees and

situated at the bottom of Mount Sumeru. Various trees and flowers

were spreading the beauty of the forest all around; at places were

Asoka creepers, Vakula, Sal, Tal, Tamal, Campak, Panasa, mangoe, Nip,

Madhuka, pomegranate, cocoanut, Yuthika, plantain, kunda creeper,

and various other trees and flowers; at some other places the bowers

formed of Madhavl creepers enhanced the beauty and shed the lustre

all around.

There were lakes and reservoirs of water in the forest filled with

swans, karandavas, and other aquatic birds. The bamboo trees on

their banks becoming filled with air were emitting sweet musical

sounds; and at many places of that all blissgiving forest, there were

bees—humming sweetly and delighting the minds of people there.

Now, the Rajarsi Pradyumna became highly gladdened in his heart to

see his interior of the forest, resonated with the cooing of the cuckoos

and beautified by various lovely flowers; and no sooner he entered

there than he was turned into a female and his horse, also, turned into

a mare; the king, then, became seriously anxious.

How can I in this woman condition go back to my house and how

shall I govern my kingdom? Alas! Who has deceived me thus!”.

The king became overpowered with great care and anxiety and did

not go back, out of shame, to his palace; but he began to wander to

and fro on the outskirts of that forest.

He became known afterwards as woman Ila. Now, once, on an

occasion, Budha, while he was wandering at his will, came up there

and seeing the beautiful Ila with her gestures and amidst the pastures

surrounded by women, became passionately attached towards her;

and Ila, too, seeing the beautiful Budha, the son of Candra Deva,

became desirous to have him as her husband. They became so very

much tied in love towards each other, that intercourse took place

there.

Thus Bhagavan Budha generated, in the womb of Ila, Pururava; and Ila

gave birth, in due time, to son Pururava in that forest.

3.न्यर्ेदयत् सा गुरर्े र्नसष्ठा-

यैंषा कदानचनिजपुं स्त्वकामम्

तत्साधनाथं हरमे र् दध्यौ

मुननः प्रसिस्तमुर्ाच शम्ुः

nyavedayatsaa gurave vasisht'haa

yaishaa kadaachinnijapumstvakaamam .

tatsaadhanaartham harameva dadhyau

munih' prasannastamuvaacha shambhuh' .. 5-3..

3.One day she(the son of manu, who had become a mother), after his

desire to become a lady was over, informed Guru Vasishta. For

achieving that he(Vasishta) meditated on Lord Shiva, and made shiva

happy. Lord Shiva told him(the rishi):

After attaining motherhood, manu’s son desired to become a man as

before. He expressed this desire to his guru vasishitha. He was the

one who had changed princess Ila to a prince. He had to show the

strength of his tapas again. Like before, guru vasishtha, prayed to lord

siva. Without any delay lord shiva made himself visible to him( guru)

and said:

She then, with an anxious heart, recollected, while in the forest, her

(rather his), family priest Vasistha Deva.Now then Vasistha Deva,

seeing the distressed condition of king Sudyumna became affected

with pity and pleased Mahadeva, Sankara, the most auspicious Deva

of all, by hymns and praises.

When Bhagavan Sankara wanted to grant him the boon that he

desired, Vasistha Deva wanted that king would be turned again into

man as before.

4.इळार्ृतं मा पुरुषः प्रयातु

प्रयानत चेत् सोSस्त्वबला तदै र्

एर्ं मया नननितमेर् सौम्य

गौयाि ः प्रसादाय भर्ान् नप्रयो मे

ilaavri'tam maa purushah' prayaatu

prayaati chetso'stvabalaa tadaiva .

evam mayaa nishchitameva saumya

gauryaah' prasaadaaya bhavaan priyo me .. 5-4..

4.”No male should ever enter the place called Ilavrutha. If he enters,

he would immediately transform into a lady”. This has been

decided by me only for the happiness of Parvathi. But you happen to

be my favourite.

Long ago when shiva and Parvati were playing their amorous divine

games at ilavritha, maharshis came there. They returned when they

saw that it was not the right time. Parvathy requested shiva that only

ladies should be permitted to enter ilavritha. Shiva fulfilled this wish of

Parvathi. From that day onwards men were prohibited from entering

ilavritha. Unaware of this sudhyumna reached there. That is how he

became a lady. Even his horse transformed into a mare. Now lord siva

was in a dilemma, if he converts manu’s child to a man as before ,

Parvathi will be displeased. Nor can he say no to vasishtha’s wish,

because he is an ardent devotee of lord siva, and shiva loved him a

lot.

Once upon a time, Sanaka and other Rsis went to this forest (ilavrata)

to pay a visit to Sankara, illuminating the ten quarters by their holy

aura. But then Bhagavan Sankara was in amorous dealing with

Sankari. The beautiful Devi Ambika was then naked and sitting on the

lap of Sankara and therefore became very much ashamed at their

sight. She got up hurriedly, and putting on a cloth, and remained

there shuddering, with great shame and sensitiveness. The Rishis also,

seeing them engaged in amorous dealings, went away quickly to the

hermitage of Nara Narayana.

 “Then Bhagavan Sankara, seeing Sankari too much sensitive, said:

“Why are you so much bashful and shy?I am doing just now what will

give you pleasure. О Beautiful one! Whoever male will enter from

today and hereafter, within the boundaries of this forest, will be

instantly converted into a woman.”

Though the forest gave all delights to all, yet, having this defect, all

the persons that know of this curse, carefully avoided the forest.

That is how the prince became a lady and his horse was also not

spared.

5.न पक्षभेदोSत्र ममार्त्स्त गौरी

भर्ाम्श्ि तृप्तौ भर्तां मदीयौ

इतः परं तस्य मनोरपत्यम्

मासं पुमान् स्याद र्ननता च मासम्

na pakshabhedo'tra mamaasti gauree

bhavaamshcha tri'ptau bhavataam madeeyau .

itah' param tasya manorapatyam

maasam pumaan syaadvanitaa cha maasam .. 5-5..

5.In this matter I cannot take sides. From now on this child of king

Manu, will be a man for one month and the next month will be a lady.

Now the desires of Parvati and vasishta are opposing each other. Now

he needs to take a decision without showing partiality to the other.

Manu’s son can be a man one month and a lady the next month. Like

this alternate months he can be a man and a lady. This was sivas

impartial decision..so in a year 6 months manhood and 6 months

womanhood.

6.एर्म् नशर्ोक्तेन् मनोरपत्यम्

लब्ध्वा च पुम्श्स्त्वं धरणीं शशास

सत्रीत्वे च हम्येषु नननाय कालम्

जनो न चैनं नृपमभ्यनन्दत्

evam shivoktena manorapatyam

labdhvaa cha pumstvam dharaneem shashaasa .

streetve cha harmyeshu ninaaya kaalam

jano na chainam nri'pamabhyanandat .. 5-6..

6. As per what shiva said, manu’s child, attained manhood and

ruled the earth. During the time when he is in the form of a lady, he

spent his time in his palace and due to this the people of the

country did not respect him.

So accordingly, chandran’s son’s wife became a man again. When he

was a man, as a king he ruled the earth. When he became a woman

he would hide in his palace. He did not rule the kingdom as a queen.

The citizens were not ready to accept a ruler who was not a man nor

woman.

Thus, by the favor of Vasistha Deva, king Sudyumna got this boon and

returned to his kingdom and began to govern it. When he used to

turn into a woman, he used to remain inside, and when he used to

become a man, he governed his kingdom. At this the subject became

very anxious and did not welcome the king as they used to do before.

Some days passed away in this way when the prince Pururava grew up

into manhood.

7.पूरुरर्स्यात्मसुतोSपिनयत्वा

राज्यं नर्रक्तो र्नमेत्य भुपः

निनारदात् लब्धनर्ाणिमन्त्रो

भक्त्या स दध्यौ भर्ताररणीं त्वाम्

purooravasyaatmasute'rpayitvaa

raajyam virakto vanametya bhoopah' .

shreenaaradaallabdhanavaarnamantro

bhaktyaa sa dadhyau bhavataarineem tvaam .. 5-7..

7.That king who was not interested in the duties of a king, gave the

kingdom to his son Pururuvas and got the Navaarnava manthra from

Sage Narada, and started showing devotion to you in form of

bhavathaarini (bhoomidevi/Parvati devi).

When he realized the citizens were not giving him respect, the king

gave the kingdom to his son pururavas. When he was the wife of

chandran’s son, pururavas was born. As the king was not interested in

worldly matters, sage narada appeared before him.. He initiated the

king on the “navaarna mantra”. He chanted with full devotion and

meditated on the ‘bhavatarini’ form of devi. “ओम् ऐम् ह्रीम् क्लीम्

चामुण्ढायै नर्च्चे” this is the navaarna mantram. It is also called

navakshara mantram.

8.नसम्हानधरुढाम अरुणाब्जनेत्राम्

त्वां सुप्रसिामनभर्ीक्ष्य नत्वा

सतुत्वा च भक्त्या र्त्िरपुम्श्स्त्वमेष

लेभेSथ सायुज्यमर्ाप चान्ते

simhaadhirood'haamarunaabjanetraam

tvaam suprasannaamabhiveekshya natvaa .

stutvaa cha bhaktyaa sthirapumstvamesha

lebhe'tha saayujyamavaapa chaante .. 5-8..

8. You who rode on the neck of a lion, with eyes red like the petals of

a red coloured lotus, one who was extremely happy, he saw in front of

his eyes, saluted and praised you with total devotion and attained

complete and permanent manhood; later on he attained liberation.

 By chanting the navakshara mantram sudhyumnan pleased the devi.

He saluted with great devotion when he got a vision of the devi. He

got the boon of being a man permanently from the devi. Immediately

he started praising the devi. Ultimately he achieved sayoojyam.

The story of sudhyumna is there in most puranas, with slight

differences.you will find this story in the SB 9th skanda, 1st chapter, it

does not have the story of the devi hymn. SDB 1st skanda, 2th chapter

this story is there. The story of sudhyumna as a female and as a male

and also his prayers to tarinidevi and getting mukti is found here. The

benefits of performimg devi bhagvatham navaha-yagnam is

described in some chapters of skanda puranam. guess the

sudyumna’s story is there in this also.vasishth muni read the devi

bhagvatham to sudhyumna in 9 days. these 9 days Sudhyumna

observed the navratri fast with all bhakti and pleased the devi. On

completion is when the devi appeared before him it is said. With the

help of devis blessings he was able to remain a male and at the end

got sayyoojya mookti- yes he gained both. The story to become a

male permanently is not there neither in SDB nor in SB. In SDB,where

the glories of navaha-yagnam is mentioned, only there it is

mentioned. How sudhyumna attained a status of permament

manhood is there in the 8th shloka of the above mentioned chapter.

9.शौयं न र्ीयं न च पौरुषं मे

नैर्ार्त्स्त च सत्रीसहजा नतनतक्षा

मूढो न जानाम्यशुभमं शुभम् च

दे यं त्वया मे शुभमेर् मातः

shauryam na veeryam na cha paurusham me

naivaasti cha streesahajaa titikshaa .

mood'ho na jaanaamyashubham shubham cha

deyam tvayaa me shubhameva maatah' .. 5-9..

9.I do not have bravery nor the stamina that goes with being a man,

I definitely do not have the patience which is a quality in ladies. This

ignorant me is not able to differentiate between goodand evil. Oh!

mother grant me only what is good.

According to the writer he is not born with the good qualities of a

man or a woman. Children do not have the ability to differentiate

between good and bad qualities. But what is good for the child the

mother knows. Remove all the bad qualities and keep only the good

qualities, requests the writer.

10.पश्यानन मातः प्रर्रान् गुरुं स्ते

कारुण्यतो मां सुपथा नयन्तु

सत्संगसंभानर्तनचत्तर्ृनत्तर्

भर्ानन ते दे नर् नमः प्रसीद

pashyaani maatah' pravaraanguroomste

kaarunyato maam supathaa nayantu .

satsangasambhaavitachittavri'ttir

bhavaani te devi namah' praseeda .. 5-10.

10.Oh Mother may I be able to see all the well known Gurus. Let

them guide me with compassion to travel on the path of goodness. I

should turn into a good human being by keeping good company. Hey

devi! I salute thee..

How will fools who do not have good qualities survive? By keeping

company of mahatmas foolishness can go, our inner eye can also

open. To have the good company of mahatamas one needs to have

the blessings of devi.. the meaning of “माताः ” is ‘ you know all my

weaknesses’. Oh Bhavani , Oh Goddess , get pleased with me.

Thus ends the 5th chapter