60 - The Progeny of Vaivasvata Manu 

Sūta continued:

1. Thereafter, when the Chåkşhuşha Manvantara elapsed alongwith the gods, he (Brahma?) allotted the overlordship of the Earth to Vaivasvata, the great one. 

2-3. Ten sons were born of Vaivasvata Manu. They were equal to him. They were: - Ikşhväku, Nřuga, Dhruşhta, Sharyåti, Narişhyanta, Prámshu, Nābhäga, Dishta, Karūşha and Pruşhadhra. These ten are remembered as Mänavas. 

4. Urged and instructed formerly by Brahma, the king began to perform a horse-sacrifice according to his wish. 

5-6. Desirous of getting a son, the Prajapati performed a sacrifice. He dropped Ahuti (ghee-offering) in the fire at the spot allotted to Mitra and Varuņa. It is mentioned in the Shruti that Ila was born at that spot wearing divine robes, bedecked in divine ornaments and having divine physical body. 

7-9. Manu, Dandadhara (wielder of the sceptre) spoke to her—"O lla, follow me, welfare unto you” Ilå replied to him who was desirous of a son, these words consistent with and conveying Dharma— “O most excellent one among the eloquent ones, I am born in the spot allotted to Mitra and Varuņa. I am going near them. Hence, let not Dharma kill after being itself destroyed”. After saying this, the gentle lady went near them. 

10-14. After going near them, the excellent lady spoke these words with palms joined in reverence—"O Devas, I am born in the part pertaining to you. What shall I do for you? I have been told by Manu— Follow me'. When the chaste lady Ilå spoke thus, the two Devas, Mitra and Varuņa said these words— “O lady of excellent hips and very fair complexion, O lady conversant with Dharma, we are very much delighted with your modesty and control over your sense-organs as well as truthfulness. O daughter of exalted fortune, you will attain our fame and reputation. You will become a man well-renowned and honoured in the three worlds as Sudyumna. You will become a favourite of the whole universe, righteous by nature, and the perpetuator of the line of Manu". 

15. That gentle lady went back towards her father (i.e. Manu) after obtaining the boon from Mitra and Varuņa. Manu's son, lord Sudyumna again attained the form of a lady. * 

*The former half of the printed verse must be really the latter half and vice versa. 

16.17. Budha approached her later on and she was secretly entreated for a sexual intercourse by Budha. Pururavas, the son of Ila, was thus born of Budha, the son of Soma, (Moon). 

After giving birth to a son through Budha, shc resumed the form of Sudyumna. 

Sudyumna had threc heirs and successors who were extremely virtuous. 

18-20. They were Utkala, Vinata and Gaya. Utkala acquired the realm Utkala and Vnata got the western territory. Gaya, royal saint, acquired the city Gaya in the eastern direction. After creating the progeny, when Slanu entered the sun (i.c. passed away), he divided the Earth into ten parts each under a Kșhatriya. (?) The heir Ikşhvāku got the tenth portion. 

21-23. Since he had the state of a girl, Sudyumna did not get any share in the realm. At the instance of Vasistha, the highly lustrous prince was in Pratisthåna**. The establishment of the noble-souled virtuous king Sudyumna was in Pratişhthána. On hearing this, the sages asked Sūta: -

** Jhusi (near Allahabad). 

1. The strange story of bisexual Ila-Suchyumna, child of Vaivasvata Manu, is found in Mbh. Adi 75, Anushåsana 147, Bh.P.IX.1 

"How did Sudyumna, the son of Manu, attain the state of 

Sūta said: 

24-26a. “Formerly, the eternal bachelors Sanaka and others came to Ilävruta in order to see Maheśhvara. They saw the bull-emblemed lord indulging in amorous sports with Umā in a secluded spot. All of them turned back. Śhiva then became ashamed. The beloved then said to her lover these words for the sake of her own pleasure:

"O lord, the man who enters my hermitage will become a woman. That woman will be splendid and equal to celestial damsels." 

26h-27a. All the living beings there, the Piśhāchas and the animals became females. They began to sport along with Rudra like the Apsaras (celestial damsels). 

275-28. That king Sudyumna, who had been out for hunting entered Umavana (the park of Umā). When Rudra had assumed the state of a woman along with the Piśhāchas and Bhūtas (goblin), that king Sudyumna too acquired the form of a woman once again. Due to the favour of Mahadeva he regained inanhood. (the state of being the son of Manu).”