We now enter the Ninth Canto of Bhagawatam. Ninth Canto is the throat of the Supreme Lord. In this the Sun and Moon dynasties are detailed. In these dynasties many illustrious personalities were born. This entire Skanda is filled with all the stories of these wonderful personalities.
The five characteristics of a Purana are Sarga, Prati-sarga, Vamṣa, Manvantara and Vamsānucarita. Sarga explains the evolution of this Universal egg. Prati-sarga explains the re-emergence of the creation after the end of the Kalpa. Vamṣa details the lineages of various Devatas, the celestial-sages (Devarishis) and of supreme sages known as Brahmarishis. Manvantara details the fourteen Manvantaras. We have already covered these characteristics earlier. We are now going to understand the fifth characteristic called Vamṣanucarita (genealogies of kings). In this we will understand how the Sun and Moon dynasty members were uplifted.
Ninth Canto Chapter One
In this chapter the story of King Sudyumna is covered.
Emperor Parikshit enquired from Maharishi Śuka, “O revered saint! I have been fortunate to listen to the description given by you of the fourteen Manvantara periods and of the transcendental sports of Lord Srihari during these periods.
You had said that in the preceding Kalpa (creation) King Satyavrata was the ruler of the Dravida province. You also mentioned that he served the Supreme Lord and thereby attained Supreme Knowledge. You further stated that in this Kalpa (creation) Satyavrata took birth as Śraddhadeva, the son of Sun-god, and became Manu, the leader of this Manvantara. Ikśwāku and others were born as his sons.
O Maharishi! O supreme learned Mahatma! Please narrate to me the lineages of Ikṣvāku and others. Please explain their dynasties and of the eminent personalities who were born in those lineages. We desire to eternally listen to their stories and their auspicious glories. Please narrate the stories of the past, present and future kings who belong to these dynasties”.
Maharishi Suta said to Maharishis Śounaka and others, “Hearing these questions asked by Parikshit, Maharishi Śuka who was an exponent in subjects pertaining to righteousness (dharma) and devotion (bhakti) replied as follows,
“O King! I will now narrate the important topics of Manu’s dynasty. Please be attentive. To describe these lineages in absolute detail even hundreds of years are grossly inadequate.
This entire visible world merges into the Supreme Lord at the time of annihilation. Only He remains. He alone is the Self that exists within all living entities, big or small. From the navel of this Supreme Lord a golden lotus emerged which was illumining brightly. Within it emerged the four-faced Brahma who is self-born. In other words, he is an embodiment of Pure Consciousness that knows no beginning.
Maharishi Marici took birth from Brahma’s intention. Maharishi Kaśyapa was his son. Aditi, the daughter of Daksha, married Maharishi Kaśyapa. To this holy couple, the Sun-god who is of limitless radiance, was born as a son. From wife Samjya-devi, the Sun-god begot a son called Śrāddhadeva Manu. Śrāddhadeva, who was a great personality, begot ten sons from wife Śraddha. They are Ikṣvāku, Nṛga, Śaryāti, Diṣṭa, Dhṛṣṭa, Karūṣaka, Nariṣyanta, Pṛṣadhra, Nabhaga and Kavi.
Before the birth of his sons, Maharishi Vasiṣṭha got Śraddhadeva to perform a Yagna in which Mitra and Varuṇa were the presiding deities. Śrāddhadeva’s wife Śraddha diligently abided by all the Yagna rituals and sustained only on milk. The priests who invoke the deities for the homa are known as hota. Śraddha approached the hota and offering obeisance to him, beseeched him to bless them with a daughter.
When the adhvarya priest asked him to begin the homa, the hota priest held the offerings in his hand and fixing his mind solely upon the desire sought by Śraddha, uttered the vaśaṭ mantra while putting the offerings into the holy fire.
As a result of this homa, which although was begun with the intention of begetting a son but which was wrongly altered due to the desire of Manu’s wife, a daughter named Ila was born. Manu was not at all pleased. He addressed Guru Vaśiṣṭha and said,
“O revered one! You are omniscient. Why did such major discrepancy crop up in a Yagna begun by you? Mantra should never deliver opposite results, isn’t it? Why did the mantra fail? Accomplished saints of your cadre are well-versed in mantras, perfected in penance and are free from all forms of defects. How can your intention get reversed? How can the words of supreme saints like you, who are knowers of Absolute Truth, ever be rendered false? How could we be blessed with a daughter when we had prayed for a son?”
Maharishi Vasiṣṭha, who was the great-grandfather of Manu, heard the words spoken by Manu. He understood that the hota was responsible for this mistake. He replied, “O King, your hota deviated from the original intent for this Yagna, bestowing a result contrary to the original intent. Even then there is no cause for worry. Using my spiritual radiance I shall ensure that you are blessed with good sons”.
Thereafter the venerable Maharishi Vasiṣṭha, who was of great renown, decided to transform Ila into a boy. He then prayed to the Supreme Lord who is the cause for this entire creation. Srihari, the Supreme Lord, was immensely pleased hearing these prayers. He then fulfilled the desire of Manu. Immediately the girl Ila transformed into a boy called Sudyumna.
One fine morning, Sudyumna mounted a fine horse bought from Sindhu province and together with his ministers went into the forests for hunting. Sudymna, the mighty warrior, wore an armour. Using fine, long bow and arrows in his hand he was hunting deer as he travelled in the northern direction.
He entered into the forest area known as Ilavrata which is situated at the base of Mount Meru. This is the forest area where Śiva freely wanders with his spouse Parvati. Sudyumna, who entered into this forest area, suddenly realized that he had transformed into a female. Moreover his horse had also become a mare. He was stupefied! His attendants who had also suddenly transformed into females began to gape at each other in great shock and agitation”.
Hearing these words Emperor Parikshit enquired from Maharishi Śuka, “O revered sage! Why did this forest acquire the ability to transform males into females? I am curious to know the reason. Please explain this to me.”
Keshavaya namah