
Sūta said:
1. When the Chakşhuşha Manvantara had elapsed, when the Devas (pertaining to that epoch) too had gone, the kingdom of the earth was assigned to the great Vaivasvata (Manu).3
3. Description of dynasties of kings is an integral part of a Purana of five characteristics. Vaivasvata Manu, being the progenitor of these dynasties, is described in all Purānas.
This chapter corresponds to Bd.P. 2.3-60, hence only verse nos. from Bd.P. are given.
2. O Brähmaņas, I shall recount in the proper order the race of that noble-souled current Manu, the son of Vivasvān. (Listen to) and understand what is being narrated.
3. (I shall narrate the story) now taking up the present creation of Vaivasvata Manu. The first born Manu had nine sons equal to him.
4. These nine are remembered as the sons of Manu: Ikshvāku, Nahuşha, Dhruşhta, Sharyāti, Narishyanta, tha tall (Prāmshu) Nābhāga, Arishta, Karūşha and Pruşhadhra.
5. Know that formerly Manu, on being urged by Brahma, began to create willingly, but he was unsuccessful.
6. Then Prajāpati, desirous of sons, performed a great Ishti (Yajña). Manu offered the oblation (Ahuti) in the share of Mitra and Varuņa.
7. It is heard, that Ida1 was born thereof. She wore heavenly garments and was bedecked in celestial ornaments. Her body too was divine.
1. In RV. it was used in the sense of ‘refreshing draught’ Later on it came to mean a cow’, and ‘a goddess of speech’. In Sat. Br. Ida is Manu’s daughter. But in our text she is the daughter of (‘born of the share of ‘) Mitra and Varuna.
8-10. It is remembered that Manu, the bearer of the staff of justice, addressed her as ‘Ila’ and said, “Welfare unto you, I shall follow you”. Ilā replied to the Prajāpati who was desirous of sons, in the following words sanctioned by Dharma. “O foremost of the eloquent ones, I am born in the share of Mitra and Varuņa, I will (first) approach them. May not Dharma violated by us kill us”. After speaking thus, the noble lady went near them (Mitra and Varuna).
11. After going near them, the beautiful lady spoke these words with palms joined in reverence: “O Devas, I am born in your share. What should I do?
12-14. I have been requested by Manu, thus, ‘Follow me”. When the chaste lady Idā spoke thus, both of them, Mitra and Varuņa spoke these words: “O fair-complexioned lady of beautiful hips, O knower of Dharma, we are delighted by your humility, self-control and truthfulness. O blessed lady, you will become renowned as our daughter”.
15-16. The son of Manu, the righteous-souled promoter of Manu’s race is the beloved of the universe. He who is revered in the three worlds is famous as Sudyumna. He has attained the form of a lady.1 That noble lady returned to her father after securing the boon.
1. This strange story of Vaivasvata Manu’s bi-sexual child is found in Mbh. Adi 75, Anushasana 147, Bh.P. IX. 1.
17. After getting an opportune moment, she was invited for love making (sexual intercourse) by Budha (the planet Mercury). From Budha, the son of Soma, Purūravas, the son of Ilă was born.
18. After giving birth to the son born of Budha, she became Sudyumna again. Sudyumna had three sons, all extremely virtuous.
19. They were Utkala, Gaya and Vinatāśhva. The land of Utkala went over to Utkala. The western region went over to Vinatāśhva. In the quarter of the Wind-god (north-west) was Gayā, the city of Gaya, the saintly king.
20. (Defective verse) When Manu was abandoned (created) the Sun (Diväkara) created the subjects and divided the whole region of the earth into ten.
21. Ikşhvāku had ten other sons. In view of his being a lady (as well), Sudyumna had no share,
22-23. At the instance of Vasişhtha, the establishment of the noble-souled Sudyumna, the virtuous king of great lustre, was (took place) in Pratishthāna. After getting the kingdom, he, of great renown, gave it to Pururavas. The characteristics of wo men and men among human beings, O blessed ones, (will be duly manifest). Sudyumna, the son of Manu, attained the status of a woman again.
24. On hearing this the sages asked thereafter: “How did Sudyumna, the son of Manu, attain womanhood?”
Sūta said:
25. The beloved goddess (Uma) spoke these words to her lover (Shiva) for the sake of his love: “O Lord, the man who enters my personal hermitage will certainly become a woman. She will be auspicious and on a par with the celestial damsels.”
26. All the living beings there, Pishachas, and the animals became women and played with Rudra like heavenly ladies.
27-28. That king who had gone a-hunting entered Uma’s forest. He attained womanhood along with the Pishachas, Bhūtas and Rudras. Hence that king attained womanhood. By the grace of Mahādeva, he shall attain the lordship of the Gaņas.