Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 38
The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā
तुष्टस्तस्मै स भगवानृषये प्रियमावहन् । स्वां च वाचमृतां कुर्वन्निदमाह विशाम्पते ॥ ३८ ॥ मासं पुमान् स भविता मासं स्री तव गोत्रज: । इत्थं व्यवस्थया कामं सुद्युम्नोऽवतु मेदिनीम् ॥ ३९ ॥
tuṣṭas tasmai sa bhagavān ṛṣaye priyam āvahan svāṁ ca vācam ṛtāṁ kurvann idam āha viśāmpate
O King Parīkṣit, Lord Śiva was pleased with Vasiṣṭha. Therefore, to satisfy him and to keep his own word to Pārvatī, Lord Śiva said to that saintly person, “Your disciple Sudyumna may remain a male for one month and a female for the next. In this way he may rule the world as he likes.”
The word gotrajaḥ is significant in this connection. Brāhmaṇas generally act as spiritual masters of two dynasties. One is their disciplic succession, and the other is the dynasty born of their semen. Both descendants belong to the same gotra, or dynasty. In the Vedic system we sometimes find that both brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas and even vaiśyas come in the disciplic succession of the same ṛṣis. Because the gotra and dynasty are one, there is no difference between the disciples and the family born of the semen. The same system still prevails in Indian society, especially in regard to marriage, for which the gotra is calculated. Here the word gotrajaḥ refers to those born in the same dynasty, whether they be disciples or members of the family.
FAQs
This verse highlights that Bhagavān makes His own speech ṛta—unfailing and perfectly true—showing the absolute reliability of divine promise and benediction.
Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit as the protector of the people to honor his royal duty and to keep the narration grounded in the king’s responsibility to hear and apply dharma.
A devotee can cultivate faith and steadiness by taking divine instructions and promises (śāstra and bhagavad-vākya) as trustworthy guidance for life decisions and spiritual practice.