॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 1 March 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam IX.01 - The birth of Ila/Sudyumna and Pururavas.
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This chapter tells the story of how Pururavas was born and succeeded Sudyumna.
We have already read how from the mind of Lord Brahma, Marichi was generated, and his son was Kashyapa. From Kashyapa, through Aditi, Vivasvan (also called Surya, the sun god) was generated, and from Vivasvan came Shraddhadeva Manu (who was the southern Rajarshi King Satyavrata in the Matsyavatara!). He was born from the womb of Sanjna (well-known as one of the wives of Surya). Shraddhadeva’s wife, Shraddhaa, gave birth eventually to ten sons, such as Ikshvaku (Sri Rama's ancestor) and Nriga. But this chapter tells what happened earlier.
Much before these sons were born, the king Shraddhadeva was childless and requested his Guru Sage Vasishtha to perform a Yajna to beget a son. As the Yajna was being conducted, at the vital moment of Ahuti, Shraddhaa came and whispered to the assistant priest that in fact, she wanted a daughter. The assistant while offering the oblation chanted that a daughter may be granted. Thus, a female child was born to the couple named Ila (इला).
This caused much consternation in the king. On his request, Vasishtha prayed to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu that a mistake had occurred and indeed the king may kindly be granted a son. Bhagavan mercifully made the child into a boy, and the prince was called Sudyumna.
Sudyumna went once hunting in the forests in the Himalayas which were the sporting grounds of Bhagavan Shiva with Parvati. Sometime earlier, some rishis had intruded upon Shiva-Parvati's romantic love-making and Parvati was ashamed to be seen in the act of love. Bhagavan Shiva then pronounced that all those rishis would become women, and what is more, anyone who entered that forest would be turned into a woman!
So it was Sudyumna's turn now to become a woman. Indeed even his wonderful horse from Sidhudesha became a mare and all his associates became women. This lovely princess (Ila) was most attractive and Lord Budha fell in love with her. They begot a son called Pururavas. Again, Sage Vasishtha came into the picture. He begged Lord Shiva to turn Ila back into Sudyumna. Lord Shiva was merciful to grant Vasishtha's request, but on the condition that Sudyumna would be made into Ila every other month.
Sudyumna/Ila ruled the kingdom well until he retired and made Pururavas the king.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
