Shloka 39
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, Sudyumna of your line shall be male for one month and female for the next; by this ordinance he will rule the earth as he desires—thus spoke Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva).
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 the Lord makes His own words (promises) perfectly true and effective—His speech is ṛta, unfailing and reality-forming.
Because the Lord was pleased with the sage and desired to grant what was dear to him, He spoke a decisive arrangement that would resolve Sudyumna’s unusual condition.
It encourages steady faith in śāstra and in divine promises—living with integrity, trusting that sincere devotion and dharma are never wasted.