30 shlokas
तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणेनोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन्राघवो वचः ।। 7.87.1 ।।
tacchrutvā lakṣmaṇenoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ prahasanrāghavo vacaḥ || 7.87.1 ||
Translation
Hearing that speech uttered by Lakshmana, Raghava of great splendor, skilled in discourse, smiling, replied with these words.
एवमेव नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । वृत्रघातमशेषेण वाजिमेधफलं च यत् ।। 7.87.2 ।।
evameva naraśreṣṭha yathā vadasi lakṣmaṇa | vṛtraghātamaśeṣeṇa vājimedhaphalaṃ ca yat || 7.87.2 ||
Translation
It is exactly so, O best of men, as you say, Lakshmana — both the slaying of Vritra in its entirety and the fruit that is gained from the horse-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 ||
Translation
For it is heard, O gentle one, that in olden times there was a son of Kardama the Prajapati, a glorious and high-minded lord of Bahlika named Ila.
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 ||
Translation
That most righteous king, having brought the whole earth under his sway, ruled his kingdom too, O tiger among men, as though it were his own son.
सुरैश्च परमोदारैर्दैतेयैश्च महाधनैः । नागराक्षसगन्धर्वैर्यक्षैश्च सुमहात्मभिः ।। 7.87.5 ।।
suraiśca paramodārairdaiteyaiśca mahādhanaiḥ | nāgarākṣasagandharvairyakṣaiśca sumahātmabhiḥ || 7.87.5 ||
Translation
By the most magnanimous gods, by the wealthy Daityas, by the Nagas, Rakshasas, and Gandharvas, and by the exceedingly great-souled 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 ||
Translation
He was worshipped continually, O gentle delight of the Raghus, by those afflicted with fear; and the three worlds were terrified of that great-souled one whenever he was wrathful.
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 ||
Translation
Such indeed was that king, firmly established in righteousness and in valor, most magnanimous in understanding — the illustrious lord of Bahlika of great renown.
स प्रचक्रे महाबाहुर्मृगयां रुचिरे वने । चैत्रे मनोरमे मासि सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 7.87.8 ।।
sa pracakre mahābāhurmṛgayāṃ rucire vane | caitre manorame māsi sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.87.8 ||
Translation
That mighty-armed one undertook a hunt in a lovely forest, in the delightful month of Chaitra, together with his attendants, his army, and his mounts.
प्रजघ्ने च नृपो ऽरण्ये मृगाञ्छतसहस्रशः । हत्वैव तृप्तिर्नाभूच्च राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। 7.87.9 ।।
prajaghne ca nṛpo 'raṇye mṛgāñchatasahasraśaḥ | hatvaiva tṛptirnābhūcca rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.87.9 ||
Translation
And the king slew deer in the forest by the hundreds of thousands; yet even by such slaughter no satisfaction came to that great-souled king.
नानामृगाणामयुतं वध्यमानं महात्मना । यत्र जातो माहासेनस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे ।। 7.87.10 ।।
nānāmṛgāṇāmayutaṃ vadhyamānaṃ mahātmanā | yatra jāto māhāsenastaṃ deśamupacakrame || 7.87.10 ||
Translation
Slaying a myriad of the various wild beasts, that great-souled one came upon that region where Mahasena (Kartikeya) had been born.
तस्मिन्प्रदेशे देवेश शैलराजसुतां हरः । रमयामास दुर्धर्षः सर्वैरनुचरैः सह ।। 7.87.11 ।।
tasminpradeśe deveśa śailarājasutāṃ haraḥ | ramayāmāsa durdharṣaḥ sarvairanucaraiḥ saha || 7.87.11 ||
Translation
In that region, O lord, Hara, the unassailable one, was disporting himself with the daughter of the mountain-king (Parvati), together with all his attendants.
कृत्वा स्त्रीरूपमात्मानमुमेशो गोपतिध्वजः । देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षुः संस्तस्मिन्पर्वतनिर्झरे ।। 7.87.12 ।।
kṛtvā strīrūpamātmānamumeśo gopatidhvajaḥ | devyāḥ priyacikīrṣuḥ saṃstasminparvatanirjhare || 7.87.12 ||
Translation
Wishing to please the goddess, the lord of Uma, whose banner bears the bull, had made himself into the form of a woman there, in that mountain cascade.
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 ||
Translation
And whatever beings in that tract of the forest were of male nature, and the trees that bore masculine names, all then became 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 ||
Translation
Indeed whatever existed there, all of it took on a feminine character. In the meantime that king Ila, the son of Kardama, slaying deer by the thousands, came upon that region.
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 ||
Translation
When he saw that everything — together with the serpents, beasts, and birds — had been turned into female form, and that he himself along with his followers had been turned into a woman, O delight of the Raghus —
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 ||
Translation
Great was his grief when he beheld himself reduced to such a state; and when he understood that this was the work of Uma's lord, he was seized with terror.
ततो देवं महात्मानं शितिकण्ठं कपर्दिनम् । जगाम शरणं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 7.87.17 ।।
tato devaṃ mahātmānaṃ śitikaṇṭhaṃ kapardinam | jagāma śaraṇaṃ rājā sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.87.17 ||
Translation
Then the king, together with his servants, his army, and his mounts, went for refuge to the great-souled god, the white-necked one who wears matted locks.
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 ||
Translation
Thereupon the great lord Maheshvara, the bestower of boons, laughing along with his consort, himself the giver of boons, 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 ||
Translation
"Rise up, rise up, O royal sage, O mighty son of Kardama! Except for manhood, O gentle one, O you of firm vows, choose whatever boon you desire."
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 ||
Translation
Then the king, tormented by grief and refused by the great-souled god, being turned into a woman, did not accept any other boon from that best of the gods.
ततः शोकेन महता शैलराजसुतां नृपः । प्रणिपत्य ह्युमां देवीं सर्वेणैवान्तरात्मना ।। 7.87.21 ।।
tataḥ śokena mahatā śailarājasutāṃ nṛpaḥ | praṇipatya hyumāṃ devīṃ sarveṇaivāntarātmanā || 7.87.21 ||
Translation
Then, with great sorrow, the king bowed down with his whole inmost being before the goddess Uma, daughter of the mountain-king.
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 ||
Translation
"O mistress, O bestower of boons, O radiant one, you are the giver of boons to the worlds; O goddess whose glance is never in vain, look upon me with a kindly 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 ||
Translation
Perceiving what was in the heart of that royal sage there in Hara's presence, the goddess, who was honored by Rudra, replied with auspicious words.
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 ||
Translation
"The god is the bestower of one half of the boon, and I indeed am the bestower of the other half; therefore take from your half as much of womanhood or manhood as you wish."
तदद्भुततरं श्रुत्वा देव्या वरमनुत्तमम् । सम्प्रहृष्टमना भूत्वा राजा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.87.25 ।।
tadadbhutataraṃ śrutvā devyā varamanuttamam | samprahṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā rājā vākyamathābravīt || 7.87.25 ||
Translation
Hearing that most wondrous and unsurpassed boon of the goddess, the king, his mind filled with delight, then spoke these words.
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 ||
Translation
"O goddess, if you are pleased with me, then let me, unequalled in beauty upon the earth, dwell in womanhood for a month and then again become a man for a 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 ||
Translation
Understanding what he desired, the goddess of lovely countenance replied with auspicious words: "So shall it be."
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 ||
Translation
"O king, when you are a man you shall not remember your state as a woman, and when you have become a woman, for that whole month you shall 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 ||
Translation
Thus that king, the son of Kardama, having become a man for one month, then for one month became Ila, a woman beautiful beyond all the three worlds.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्ताशीतितमः सर्गः ।। 87 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe saptāśītitamaḥ sargaḥ || 87 ||
Translation
Thus ends the eighty-seventh canto in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic poem composed by the sage Valmiki.