Uttara Kanda, Sarga 87

तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणेनोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन्राघवो वचः ।। 7.87.1 ।।

tacchrutvā lakṣmaṇenoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ prahasanrāghavo vacaḥ || 7.87.1 ||

Having heard the words spoken by Lakshmana, Rama, who was greatly effulgent and an expert in speech, replied with a smile.

एवमेव नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । वृत्रघातमशेषेण वाजिमेधफलं च यत् ।। 7.87.2 ।।

evameva naraśreṣṭha yathā vadasi lakṣmaṇa | vṛtraghātamaśeṣeṇa vājimedhaphalaṃ ca yat || 7.87.2 ||

Rama affirmed to Lakshmana, "O best among men, what you say is exactly true, regarding the complete slaying of Vritra and the fruit of the Ashwamedha sacrifice."

श्रूयते हि पुरा सौम्य कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । पुत्रो बाह्लीश्वरः श्रीमानिलो नाम महाशयाः ।। 7.87.3 ।।

śrūyate hi purā saumya kardamasya prajāpateḥ | putro bāhlīśvaraḥ śrīmānilo nāma mahāśayāḥ || 7.87.3 ||

O gentle one, it is indeed heard that formerly, there was a glorious son of Prajapati Kardama, named Ila, who was the lord of Bahlika and of great mind.

स राजा पृथिवीं सर्वां वशे कृत्वा सुधार्मिकः । राज्यं चैव नरव्याघ्र पुत्रवत्पर्यपालयत् ।। 7.87.4 ।।

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

That very righteous king, having brought the entire earth under his control, protected his kingdom as if it were his own son, O tiger among men.

सुरैश्च परमोदारैर्दैतेयैश्च महाधनैः । नागराक्षसगन्धर्वैर्यक्षैश्च सुमहात्मभिः ।। 7.87.5 ।।

suraiśca paramodārairdaiteyaiśca mahādhanaiḥ | nāgarākṣasagandharvairyakṣaiśca sumahātmabhiḥ || 7.87.5 ||

He was revered by extremely generous gods, very wealthy Daityas, Nagas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, and very noble-minded Yakshas.

पूज्यते नित्यशः सौम्य भयार्तै रघुनन्दन । अबिभ्यंश्च त्रयो लोकाः सरोषस्य महात्मनः ।। 7.87.6 ।।

pūjyate nityaśaḥ saumya bhayārtai raghunandana | abibhyaṃśca trayo lokāḥ saroṣasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.87.6 ||

O gentle Rama, O delight of the Raghus, this great and wrathful king is constantly worshipped by those afflicted with fear, and due to his power, the three worlds are fearless.

स राजा तादृशो ह्यासीद्धर्मे वीर्ये च निष्ठितः । बुद्ध्या च परमोदारो बाह्लीकेशो महायशाः ।। 7.87.7 ।।

sa rājā tādṛśo hyāsīddharme vīrye ca niṣṭhitaḥ | buddhyā ca paramodāro bāhlīkeśo mahāyaśāḥ || 7.87.7 ||

That king, the lord of Bahlika, was indeed such a one, firmly established in righteousness and valor, supremely noble in intellect, and greatly renowned.

स प्रचक्रे महाबाहुर्मृगयां रुचिरे वने । चैत्रे मनोरमे मासि सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 7.87.8 ।।

sa pracakre mahābāhurmṛgayāṃ rucire vane | caitre manorame māsi sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.87.8 ||

The mighty-armed king undertook a hunt in a beautiful forest during the delightful month of Chaitra, accompanied by his servants, army, and conveyances.

प्रजघ्ने च नृपो ऽरण्ये मृगाञ्छतसहस्रशः । हत्वैव तृप्तिर्नाभूच्च राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। 7.87.9 ।।

prajaghne ca nṛpo 'raṇye mṛgāñchatasahasraśaḥ | hatvaiva tṛptirnābhūcca rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.87.9 ||

And the king killed hundreds of thousands of animals in the forest, yet even after killing so many, that great-souled king was not satisfied.

नानामृगाणामयुतं वध्यमानं महात्मना । यत्र जातो माहासेनस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे ।। 7.87.10 ।।

nānāmṛgāṇāmayutaṃ vadhyamānaṃ mahātmanā | yatra jāto māhāsenastaṃ deśamupacakrame || 7.87.10 ||

While ten thousand animals of various kinds were being killed by the great-souled king, he approached that region where Mahasena (Kartikeya) was born.

तस्मिन्प्रदेशे देवेश शैलराजसुतां हरः । रमयामास दुर्धर्षः सर्वैरनुचरैः सह ।। 7.87.11 ।।

tasminpradeśe deveśa śailarājasutāṃ haraḥ | ramayāmāsa durdharṣaḥ sarvairanucaraiḥ saha || 7.87.11 ||

In that region, the unassailable Hara, the lord of gods, sported with Parvati, the daughter of the king of mountains, accompanied by all his attendants.

कृत्वा स्त्रीरूपमात्मानमुमेशो गोपतिध्वजः । देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षुः संस्तस्मिन्पर्वतनिर्झरे ।। 7.87.12 ।।

kṛtvā strīrūpamātmānamumeśo gopatidhvajaḥ | devyāḥ priyacikīrṣuḥ saṃstasminparvatanirjhare || 7.87.12 ||

Desirous of pleasing the goddess, Shiva, the lord of Uma whose banner bears a bull, transformed himself into a female form in that mountain stream.

ये तु तत्र वनोद्देशे सत्त्वाः पुरुषवादिनः । वृक्षाः पुरुषनामानस्ते ऽभवन् स्त्रीजनास्तदा ।। 7.87.13 ।।

ye tu tatra vanoddeśe sattvāḥ puruṣavādinaḥ | vṛkṣāḥ puruṣanāmānaste 'bhavan strījanāstadā || 7.87.13 ||

Then, all the male beings and trees with male names in that forest region transformed into women.

यच्च किञ्चन तत्सर्वं नारीसञ्ज्ञं बभूव ह । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजा स इलः कर्दमात्मजः । निघ्नन्मृगसहस्राणि तं देशमुपचक्रमे ।। 7.87.14 ।।

yacca kiñcana tatsarvaṃ nārīsañjñaṃ babhūva ha | etasminnantare rājā sa ilaḥ kardamātmajaḥ | nighnanmṛgasahasrāṇi taṃ deśamupacakrame || 7.87.14 ||

Indeed, everything there became female, and in the meantime, King Ila, the son of Kardama, entered that region while hunting thousands of deer.

स दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीकृतं सर्वं सव्यालमृगपक्षकम् । आत्मनं स्त्रीकृतं चैव सानुगं रघुनन्दन ।। 7.87.15 ।।

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

O delight of the Raghus, upon seeing everything—including wild animals, deer, and birds—transformed into females, and himself along with his followers also turned into women, he was astonished.

तस्य दुःखं महच्चासीद्दृष्ट्वा ऽ ऽत्मानं तथागतम् । उमापतेश्च तत्कर्म ज्ञात्वा त्रासमुपागमत् ।। 7.87.16 ।।

tasya duḥkhaṃ mahaccāsīddṛṣṭvā ' 'tmānaṃ tathāgatam | umāpateśca tatkarma jñātvā trāsamupāgamat || 7.87.16 ||

Seeing himself transformed and realizing that this was the deed of Lord Shiva, he was overcome with great sorrow and fear.

ततो देवं महात्मानं शितिकण्ठं कपर्दिनम् । जगाम शरणं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 7.87.17 ।।

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

Then, the king, along with his servants, army, and vehicles, went to seek refuge with the great-souled, blue-necked, matted-haired god (Shiva).

ततः प्रहस्य वरदः सह देव्या महेश्वरः । प्रजापतिसुतं वाक्यमुवाच वरदः स्वयम् ।। 7.87.18 ।।

tataḥ prahasya varadaḥ saha devyā maheśvaraḥ | prajāpatisutaṃ vākyamuvāca varadaḥ svayam || 7.87.18 ||

Then, the great lord Maheśvara, the bestower of boons, laughed with the goddess and himself spoke these words to the son of Prajapati.

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे कार्दमेय महाबल । पुरुषत्वमृते सौम्य वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। 7.87.19 ।।

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājarṣe kārdameya mahābala | puruṣatvamṛte saumya varaṃ varaya suvrata || 7.87.19 ||

Lord Shiva commanded, "Arise, arise, O royal sage, O son of Kardama, O mighty one; O gentle one, O one of good vows, choose any boon except for manhood."

ततः स राजा दुःखार्तः प्रत्याख्यातो महात्मना । न च जग्राह स्त्रीभूतो वरमन्यं सुरोत्तमात् ।। 7.87.20 ।।

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

Then, that king, afflicted by sorrow and rejected by the great-souled one, did not accept any other boon from the best of gods, having become a woman.

ततः शोकेन महता शैलराजसुतां नृपः । प्रणिपत्य ह्युमां देवीं सर्वेणैवान्तरात्मना ।। 7.87.21 ।।

tataḥ śokena mahatā śailarājasutāṃ nṛpaḥ | praṇipatya hyumāṃ devīṃ sarveṇaivāntarātmanā || 7.87.21 ||

Then, overwhelmed by great sorrow, the king bowed down to the goddess Uma, the daughter of the king of mountains, with his entire heart and soul.

ईशे वराणां वरदे लोकानामसि भामिनी । अमोघदर्शने देवी भज सौम्येन चक्षुषा ।। 7.87.22 ।।

īśe varāṇāṃ varade lokānāmasi bhāminī | amoghadarśane devī bhaja saumyena cakṣuṣā || 7.87.22 ||

O radiant goddess, giver of boons, you are the mistress of boons and the worlds, and your sight is unfailing; please look upon me with a gentle eye.

हृद्गतं तस्य राजर्षेर्विज्ञाय हरसन्निधौ । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यं देवी रुद्रस्य संमता ।। 7.87.23 ।।

hṛdgataṃ tasya rājarṣervijñāya harasannidhau | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ devī rudrasya saṃmatā || 7.87.23 ||

Having understood the desire in the heart of that royal sage, the goddess, who was dear to Rudra, replied with auspicious words in the presence of Hara.

अर्धस्य देवो वरदो वरार्धस्य तव ह्यहम् । तस्मादर्धं गृहाण त्वं स्त्रीपुंसोर्यावदिच्छसि ।। 7.87.24 ।।

ardhasya devo varado varārdhasya tava hyaham | tasmādardhaṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ strīpuṃsoryāvadicchasi || 7.87.24 ||

The goddess declared that Shiva grants half of the boons, and she grants the other half, therefore the king should take as much of the male and female aspect as he desires.

तदद्भुततरं श्रुत्वा देव्या वरमनुत्तमम् । सम्प्रहृष्टमना भूत्वा राजा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.87.25 ।।

tadadbhutataraṃ śrutvā devyā varamanuttamam | samprahṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā rājā vākyamathābravīt || 7.87.25 ||

Having heard that most wonderful and unsurpassed boon from the goddess, the king became greatly delighted and then spoke.

यदि देवि प्रसन्ना मे रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । मासं स्त्रीत्वमुपासित्वा मासं स्यां पुरुषः पुनः ।। 7.87.26 ।।

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

O Goddess, if you are pleased with me, who is unequalled in beauty on earth, then may I experience womanhood for one month and then become a man again for another month.

ईप्सितं तस्य विज्ञाय देवी सुरुचिरानना । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यमेवमेव भविष्यति ।। 7.87.27 ।।

īpsitaṃ tasya vijñāya devī surucirānanā | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyamevameva bhaviṣyati || 7.87.27 ||

Understanding his wish, the Goddess with a very beautiful face replied with auspicious words, saying, 'It shall be exactly so.'

राजन्पुरुषभूतस्त्वं स्त्रीभावं न स्मरिष्यसि । स्त्रीभूतश्च परं मासं न स्मरिष्यसि पौरुषम् ।। 7.87.28 ।।

rājanpuruṣabhūtastvaṃ strībhāvaṃ na smariṣyasi | strībhūtaśca paraṃ māsaṃ na smariṣyasi pauruṣam || 7.87.28 ||

O King, when you become a man, you will not remember your state as a woman, and when you become a woman for the next month, you will not remember your manhood.

एवं स राजा पुरुषो मासं भूत्वाथ कार्दमिः । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी नारी मासमेकमिला ऽभवत् ।। 7.87.29 ।।

evaṃ sa rājā puruṣo māsaṃ bhūtvātha kārdamiḥ | trailokyasundarī nārī māsamekamilā 'bhavat || 7.87.29 ||

Thus, that King Ila, the son of Kardama, having been a man for one month, then became Ila, a woman beautiful in the three worlds, for another month. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्ताशीतितमः सर्गः ।। 87 ।। Thus ends the eighty-seventh sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.