Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa
इलावृते तु भगवान् भव एक एव पुमान्न ह्यन्यस्तत्रापरो निर्विशति भवान्या: शापनिमित्तज्ञो यत्प्रवेक्ष्यत: स्त्रीभावस्तत्पश्चाद्वक्ष्यामि ॥ १५ ॥
ilāvṛte tu bhagavān bhava eka eva pumān na hy anyas tatrāparo nirviśati bhavānyāḥ śāpa-nimitta-jño yat-pravekṣyataḥ strī-bhāvas tat paścād vakṣyāmi.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: In the land known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa, the only male is Bhagavān Bhava (Lord Śiva). No other man may enter there. Bhavānī (Durgā) knows the cause of her curse: whoever foolishly enters is at once transformed into a woman. I shall explain this later.
FAQs
This verse states that in Ilāvṛta-varṣa, Lord Śiva alone remains the male, and other men do not enter; anyone who enters is said to become a woman due to Bhavānī’s curse.
While describing Jambūdvīpa’s regions, Śukadeva indicates a special rule governing Ilāvṛta-varṣa and promises to explain later the cause and effect of Bhavānī’s curse connected with entry into that realm.
It highlights that divine realms operate under higher laws and that one should approach sacred topics with humility, respecting boundaries and the unseen consequences of actions.