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॥ अथ उत्तरकाण्डे अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥
७.७८.१
तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणेनोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ।
प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन्राघवो वचः ॥
Summary AI Hearing those words spoken by Lakṣmaṇa, the eloquent and effulgent Rāghava replied with a smile.
M N Dutt Hearing the words of Laksmana and smiling, the highly effulgent descendant of Raghu, Rāma, skilled in the are of speech, replied.
७.७८.२
एवमेतन्नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण ।
वृत्रघातमशेषेण वाजिमेधफलं च यत् ॥
Summary AI "O best among men, Lakṣmaṇa, it is exactly as you say regarding the complete destruction of Vṛtra and the fruit of the Vājimedha sacrifice."
M N Dutt Lakşmaņa, O foremost of men, you have truly related the story of Vſtra's destruction and the fruits of horse-sacrifice.
७.७८.३
श्रूयते हि पुरा सौम्य कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः ।
पुत्रो बाह्लीश्वरः श्रीमानिलो नाम सुधार्मिकः ॥
Summary AI "O gentle one, it is heard that in ancient times, the illustrious and highly righteous son of the progenitor Kardama, named Ila, was the ruler of Bāhlī."
M N Dutt 0gentle one, I have heard, that formerly in the province of Valhīka, the graceful king lla, the son of the patriarch Kardama, was highly pious.
७.७८.४
स राजा पृथिवीं सर्वां वशे कृत्वा महायशाः ।
राज्यं चैव नरव्याघ्र पुत्रवत्पर्यपालयत् ॥
Summary AI "O tiger among men, that renowned king, having brought the entire earth under his control, protected the kingdom like his own son."
M N Dutt O foremost of men, having brought the entire earth under his subjects like to his own sons.
७.७८.५
सुरैश्च परमोदारैर्दैतेयैश्च महासुरैः ।
नागराक्षसगन्धर्वैर्यक्षैश्च सुमहात्मभिः ॥
Summary AI He was honored by noble gods, mighty Daiteyas, Nāgas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, and high-souled Yakṣas.
M N Dutt O descendant of Raghu, being terrified, the generous deities, the rich Daityas, the highly powerful Nägas, the irrepressible Rakşasas, Gandharvas and Yakşas used to adore him perpetually. The high-souled Ila being enraged, the three worlds used to be convulsed with terror.
७.७८.६
पूज्यते नित्यशः सौम्य भयार्तै रघुनन्दन ।
अबिभ्यंश्च त्रयो लोकाः सरोषस्य महात्मनः ॥
Summary AI "O Raghunandana, he was constantly worshipped by those struck by fear, and all three worlds trembled before that great soul when he was angry."
M N Dutt O descendant of Raghu, being terrified, the generous deities, the rich Daityas, the highly powerful Nägas, the irrepressible Rakşasas, Gandharvas and Yakşas used to adore him perpetually. The high-souled Ila being enraged, the three worlds used to be convulsed with terror.
७.७८.७
स राजा तादृशो ह्यासीद्धर्मे वीर्ये च निष्ठितः ।
बुद्ध्या च परमोदारो बाह्लीकानां महायशाः ॥
Summary AI "That famous king of the Bāhlīkas was firmly established in righteousness and valor, and was exceedingly noble in his intellect."
M N Dutt And albeit so very powerful the highly illustrious king of Vālhika never swerved from the path of morality nor neglected his deities and rather intelligently used to administer all business.
७.७८.८
स प्रचक्रे महाबाहुर्मृगयां रुचिरे वने ।
चैत्रे मनोरमे मासि सभृत्यबलवाहनः ॥
Summary AI That mighty-armed king set out for a hunt in a beautiful forest during the delightful month of Caitra, accompanied by his servants, army, and vehicles.
७.७८.९
प्रजघ्ने स नृपोऽरण्ये मृगाञ्शतसहस्रशः ।
हत्वैव तृप्तिर्नाभूच्च राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥
Summary AI The king slew hundreds of thousands of deer in the forest, yet even after killing so many, that great-souled monarch was not satisfied.
M N Dutt Once on a time in the picturesque season of spring the mighty-armed Ila, with his army and conveyances, entered into a charming forest, and on the pretext of hunting, slew hundreds and thousands of deer. With slaying deer only the high-souled king was not satisfied.
७.७८.१०
नानामृगाणामयुतं वध्यमानं महात्मना ।
यत्र जातो महासेनस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे ॥
Summary AI While ten thousand various deer were being slain by the great soul, he approached the region where Mahāsena was born.
M N Dutt He slew millions of diverse other animals. In this way being engaged in hunting the king Ila arrived where Kārtikeya was born.
७.७८.११
तस्मिंस्तु देवदेवेशः शैलराजसुतां हरः ।
रमयामास दुर्धर्षैः सर्वैरनुचरैः सह ॥
Summary AI In that place, Hara, the Lord of the lords of gods, was sporting with the daughter of the mountain king, Pārvatī, accompanied by all his formidable attendants.
M N Dutt At that time, in that hilly fountain there was sporting in the company of his followers, the irrepressible god of gods, the three-eyed deity with the daughter of the Chief of mountains.
७.७८.१२
कृत्वा स्त्रीभूतमात्मानमुमेशो गोपतिध्वजः ।
देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षुः स तस्मिन्पर्वतनिर्झरे ॥
Summary AI Desiring to please the Goddess, Umeśa, whose banner bears the bull, had transformed himself into a woman by that mountain stream.
M N Dutt Being desirous of satisfying the goddess Umă, her lord. whose emblem is bull, was sporting under the guise of a female.
७.७८.१७
ततो देवं महात्मानं शितिकण्ठं कपर्दिनम् ।
जगाम शरणं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहनः ॥
Summary AI Then the king, along with his servants, army, and vehicles, sought refuge with the great god Śitikaṇṭha, who wears matted hair.
M N Dutt There with his followers and army the king took shelter or the high-souled and red-throated deity.
७.७८.१८
ततः प्रहस्य वरदः सह देव्या महायशाः ।
प्रजापतिसुतं वाक्यमुवाच वरदः स्वयम् ॥
Summary AI Then the illustrious granter of boons, along with the Goddess, smiled and personally spoke these words to the son of the progenitor.
M N Dutt There upon the great god, the conferror of boons, with the goddess, smiling said:
७.७८.१९
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे कार्दमेय महाबल ।
पुरुषत्वमृते सौम्य वरं वरय सुव्रत ॥
Summary AI "Rise, rise, O mighty son of Kardama, O royal sage of good vows! O gentle one, choose any boon except for the restoration of your manhood."
M N Dutt Rise up, O son of Kardama, O you of great strength, O gentle one, do you beg of me any other boon than that of obtaining your manhood. Being thus disappointed by the great deity, the king Ila, metamorphosed into a female, became greatly sorry and did not pray for any other boon.
७.७८.२०
ततः स राजा शोकार्ताः प्रत्याख्यातो महात्मना ।
न स जग्राह स्त्रीभूतो वरमन्यं सुरोत्तमात् ॥
Summary AI Then that king, afflicted with grief and transformed into a woman, having been refused his manhood by the Great Soul, did not accept any other boon from the best of gods.
७.७८.२१
ततः शोकेन महता शैलराजसुतां नृपः ।
प्रणिपत्य महादेवीं सर्वेणैवान्तरात्मना ॥
Summary AI Then the king, overwhelmed by great sorrow, prostrated himself with his entire soul before the great goddess, the daughter of the mountain-king.
M N Dutt Being stricken with great sorrow, the king, with whole heart, saluted the daughter of the mountain-chief and said:-0 goddess, you are the protectress of all-you do confer boons on all; seeing you does not become fruitless. Do you therefore have compassion on me.
७.७८.२२
ईशे वराणां वरदे लोकानामसि भामिनि ।
अमोघदर्शने देवि भजे सौम्ये नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Summary AI O beautiful lady, you are the sovereign of the worlds and the bestower of boons. O gentle goddess of unfailing vision, I worship you; salutations unto you.
७.७८.२३
हृद्गतं तस्य राजर्षेर्विज्ञाय हरसंनिधौ ।
प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यं देवी रुद्रस्य संमता ॥
Summary AI Aware of the desire in the heart of that royal sage in the presence of *Hara*, the goddess, beloved of *Rudra*, spoke these auspicious words in reply.
M N Dutt There upon, cognisant of that king's intention, the goddess, with Hara's consent, said. Half of the boon, that you shall beg of us both, shall be granted by Mahādeva, and the other half shall be granted by me. Do you therefore beg of me the half.
७.७८.२४
अर्धस्य देवो वरदो वरार्धस्य तथा ह्यहम् ।
तस्मादर्धं गृहाण त्वं स्त्रीपुंसोर्यावदिच्छसि ॥
Summary AI The Lord bestows half the boon, and I likewise bestow the other half. Therefore, choose the division of being a man or a woman as you desire.
M N Dutt There upon, cognisant of that king's intention, the goddess, with Hara's consent, said. Half of the boon, that you shall beg of us both, shall be granted by Mahādeva, and the other half shall be granted by me. Do you therefore beg of me the half.
७.७८.२५
तदद्भुततमं श्रुत्वा देव्या वरमनुत्तमम् ।
संप्रहृष्टमना भूत्वा राजा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥
Summary AI Hearing that most wonderful and peerless boon from the goddess, the king, with a gladdened heart, then spoke these words.
M N Dutt Hearing of that excellent and wondrous boon the king became greatly delighted and said:-If you are pleased with me, O goddess, do you confer upon me this boon, that I may be for one month, a female gifted with wonderful beauty in the three worlds and for another month I may be a male.
७.७८.२६
यदि देवि प्रसन्ना मे रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि ।
मासं स्त्रीत्वमुपासित्वा मासं स्यां पुरुषः पुनः ॥
Summary AI O Goddess, matchless in beauty on earth, if you are pleased with me, may I remain a woman for one month and then become a man again for the next month.
M N Dutt Hearing of that excellent and wondrous boon the king became greatly delighted and said:-If you are pleased with me, O goddess, do you confer upon me this boon, that I may be for one month, a female gifted with wonderful beauty in the three worlds and for another month I may be a male.
७.७८.२८
राजन्पुरुषभूतस्त्वं स्त्रीभावं न स्मरिष्यसि ।
स्त्रीभूतश्चापरं मासं न स्मरिष्यसि पौरुषम् ॥
Summary AI O King, while you are in the form of a man, you shall not remember your state as a woman; and during the next month as a woman, you shall not remember your manhood.
M N Dutt There upon understanding king's desire, the beautiful goddess Pārvatī, mercifully said: The boon, according to your desire, shall be granted. O king, when you shall attain to the male figure, you shall not remember anything of your female form. And when you shall a assume the charming female figure you shall forget everything of your male state.
७.७८.२९
एवं स राजा पुरुषो मासं भूत्वाथ कार्दमिः ।
त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी नारी मासमेकमिलाभवत् ॥
Summary AI In this manner, that king, the son of *Kardama*, was a man for one month, and then for one month he became *Ilā*, a woman of exquisite beauty in the three worlds.
M N Dutt O Lakşmaņa, by virtue of this boon, the king Ila for one month used to become a man and for the next used to become female, charming in the three worlds under the name of Ilă.
॥ इति उत्तरकाण्डे अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥

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