Skandapurana 3.3.9

The sages said:

Well done, well done, O fortunate one! You have recounted an excellent

narrative; you ought to tell yet another wondrous tale. // 1

Sūta said:

In the Vidarbha region, there was formerly an excellent brahmin

known as Vedamitra, intelligent and knowing the meaning of the Vedas and treatises. // 2

He had another brahmin friend named Sārasvata;

the two of them were extremely affectionate and lived in the same place. // 3

Vedamitra had a son named Sumedhas, of faithful vows;

Sārasvata had a son renowned as Somavān. // 4

Both boys were of the same age, of identical dress and status;

they had their rites of passage performed together and possessed equal learning. // 5

Having studied the Vedas along with their auxiliary limbs, logic, and grammar,

the epics, the Purāṇas, and the books of sacred law in their entirety, // 6

skilled in all sciences and wise even in their boyhood,

they brought unequaled delight to their parents through all their virtues. // 7

Once, those two best of brahmins, summoning their two sons

who were sixteen years of age and of auspicious appearance, spoke with affection: // 8

"O sons! You two, having acquired learning in your youth and full of splendor,

this time of marriage has arrived for both of you alike." // 9

Having pleased this king, the lord of Vidarbha, with your learning,

and then obtained abundant wealth, you will be married.”

Thus addressed by both parents, those two sons, the delight of the twice-born,

approached the king of Vidarbha and pleased him with their virtues.

To him, who was thoroughly pleased with their learning, the two young brahmins,

making an effort toward their marriage, declared their lack of wealth.

Knowing their intention also, the lord of the earth, the king of Vidarbha,

smiled slightly and spoke, wishing to test the ways of the world:

“There is the virtuous Queen Sīmantinī of the king of Niṣadha.

On Mondays she worships Mahādeva along with Ambikā.

On that day, having worshipped the foremost twice-born who know the Veda best,

accompanied by their wives, with supreme devotion, she gives abundant wealth.

Therefore, here one of you should put on the coquettish attire of a woman,

and the other become her husband; become a brahmin couple!

Becoming bride and groom and reaching Sīmantinī's house,

having dined and obtained abundant wealth, come back to my presence.”

Thus commanded by the king, the two young brahmins, terrified,

replied: “Fear arises in us to do this deed.

Practicing deceit toward the deities, the teacher, parents,

and also royal families, one quickly perishes along with one's lineage through delusion.

How could a man enter the inner apartments of kings in disguise?

Even if kept secret, disguise will eventually become known.

Whatever virtues were attained previously by good character, right conduct, sacred learning, and the like,

quickly go to ruin for one who walks the path of crookedness.

Sin, censure, fear, and enmity—these four

always attend embodied beings who take to the path of disguise.

Therefore we two, who are of auspicious conduct and born in a pure lineage,

will never resort to behavior praised by rogues.”

The king said:

“Because an order of deities, teachers, parents,

and the lord of the earth must not be transgressed, there can never be refusal.

Whatever is commanded by these, whether good or bad,

must certainly be done by those who are fearful, vigilant, and desiring prosperity.

Ah, we are kings, and you are our accepted subjects.

For those who act by royal command there is good fortune; otherwise, fear.

Therefore, my command must be carried out by you without delay.”

Thus addressed by the lord of men, the two said, “So be it,” out of fear.

The ruler of men made the son of the Sarasvatī-knower, who was endowed with calm,

wear the form of a woman by means of garments, ornaments, collyrium, and the like.

He, having assumed the artificial state of a wife, wearing ear-ornaments and body-unguents,

his eyes anointed with glossy collyrium, possessed of a charming form, instantly took on the radiance of an excellent woman.

Both the brahmin sons, having become a married couple by the king's command,

went to the country of Niṣadha, thinking, “Come what may.”

Having approached the royal palace on a Monday, along with the foremost twice-born

and their wives, their hospitality was performed and their feet were washed.

The queen worshipped all the brahmins seated on excellent seats,

each of the foremost twice-born accompanied by their wives.

And seeing those two brahmin sons who had arrived as a false couple,

perceiving [something] and smiling slightly, she regarded them as Gaurī and Maheśvara.

Invoking Sadāśiva, the god of gods, in the foremost twice-born,

she invoked the goddess, the mother of the universe, in the wives.

Having worshipped the best of the twice-born with perfumes, fragrant garlands,

incenses, and waved lights, she bowed with a concentrated mind.

Rice cooked in milk with clarified butter in golden dishes,

mixed with sugar and honey, furnished with delightful vegetables,

with heart-pleasing dishes of cooked fragrant rice, heaps of modakas and apūpas,

with śaṣkulī pastries, saṃyāvas, kṛsaras, and cakes made of black gram,

as well as countless other delightful foods to chew and eat,

with fragrant and savory broths, and also cool drinking water—

she served with devotion the food prepared for the foremost twice-born.

Offering incomparable curd-rice, she satisfied them.

When the foremost of twice-born had eaten and properly sipped water, the king's wife,

having bowed down and given betel and the fee according to merit,

having given cows, gold, garments, and ornaments with gem garlands,

and having bowed down again, dismissed the best of the twice-born.

Of the two sons of the foremost earthly gods, one was worshipped by her with the thought that he was Haimavatī,

and one was worshipped with the thought that he was Mahādeva. Having made their salutations, they departed by her command.

She, however, having forgotten her male nature, towards that very best of twice-born

felt desire, flushed with passion, and overcome by love spoke:

“Ah, lord, large-eyed one, handsome in every limb!

Wait, wait! Where are you going? Do you not see me, your beloved?

Ahead is this charming forest with great trees in full bloom;

in it I wish to sport with you as we please.”

Hearing what she thus said, the son of the twice-born went on ahead;

considering it to be words spoken in jest, he kept walking as before.

Again the young woman said: “Wait, wait! Where will you go,

having approached to enjoy me, who am seized by unbearable love?

Embrace me, your beloved! Let me drink your lower lip!

I am not able to walk, afflicted as I am by the arrows of Love!”

Hearing her [speak] such things never heard before, he became apprehensive;

seeing her coming behind him, he was suddenly filled with amazement:

“Who is this woman with eyes like lotus petals, with full and high breasts,

slender-waisted, broad-hipped, and delicate as a fresh sprout?

Has that very friend of mine truly become an excellent woman?

Let me ask him everything.” Thinking thus, he said:

“Why do you speak as if you are novel, friend, in form, qualities, and the like?

You speak strange words, like an agitated, impassioned woman!

You who know the Vedas and Purāṇas, a celibate student with senses conquered,

the tranquil son of Sarasvatī’s progeny—how is it that you speak like this?”

Addressed thus, she spoke again: “I am not a man, lord!

By name I am Sāmavatī, a girl who gives you delight.

If you have any doubt, beloved, look upon my limbs!”

Addressed thus, he suddenly gazed upon her in private on the path.

Seeing her with her natural chignon, adorned with hips and breasts,

beautiful in form, he felt somewhat perturbed by desire.

Restraining again with effort the agitation of his mind, the wise youth,

seized with astonishment, did not reply at all for a moment.

Sāmavatī said:

“Has any doubt of yours gone? Then come, enjoy me!

Behold this forest, beloved, suitable for lovemaking with another's woman!”

Sumedhas said:

“Do not speak thus! Do not transgress propriety like one intoxicated by passion!

The two of us know the meaning of the scriptures; how can you speak in this way?

Is this practice of adultery a proper duty

worthy of the scripture you studied, of your discernment, and of your family?

You are not a woman; you are a wise man. Know yourself by yourself!

This misfortune was made by ourselves through how the two of us acted:

having deceived our parents at the order of a rogue king,

and having performed an improper deed, this fruit of it is now being reaped.

Indeed, every improper deed destroys the welfare of men,

since you, a learned son of a brahmin, have fallen into despised womanhood.

A man who leaves the path and goes into the wilderness is pierced by thorns,

or is forcibly destroyed by beasts of prey when he abandons good company.

Therefore, resorting to discernment, come silently to your own home;

by the grace of gods and brahmins, your womanhood will dissolve.

Or if through the working of destiny womanhood alone should remain yours,

given by your father, you will take pleasure with me, O fair-complexioned lady!

Ah, what a wonder! Ah, what sorrow! Ah, the great power of sin!

Ah, this is the power of the king, amassed through the worship of Śiva!”

Though spoken to repeatedly by him in this way, that young woman, exceedingly distressed,

embracing him with force, she kissed the sprout of his lower lip.

Though thus assailed by her, the steadfast Sumedhas

brought the new woman home with effort and related everything there.

Hearing that, the two brahmins, enraged and frantic with grief,

went into the presence of the king of Vidarbha along with the two youths.

Then Sārasvata spoke to the king who had acted deceitfully:

"O king, look upon my son, constrained by your order!

Under the power of your command, these two performed a reprehensible deed.

Having obtained loathsome womanhood, my son now reaps its fruit.

Today my lineage is destroyed; my ancestors are left hopeless.

For there is no world for a sonless man whose funeral rites such as the piṇḍa offerings are lost.

Abandoning the crest-tuft, the sacred thread, the deer hide, the muñja girdle, the staff, the water-pot—

the marks proper to student celibacy—he has fallen into this state.

Abandoning the sacred thread, the Sāvitrī verse, ritual ablution, the twilight prayers, japa, and worship,

he has attained womanhood; tell me, O ruler of the earth, what is his destiny?

By you my lineage has been destroyed, and the path of the Vedas is destroyed for me.

For me, who had an only son, O king, tell what will be the eternal destiny!"

Hearing these words spoken by Sārasvata, the king

was struck with supreme wonder at the power of Sīmantinī.

Then, summoning all the great seers of boundless splendor

and propitiating them, the ruler of the earth prayed for his manhood.

They said then: "The will of Pārvatī and of Śiva,

and the māhātmya of their devotees—who is capable of altering that?

Then the king, taking Bharadvāja, the foremost among sages,

accompanied by those two eminent brahmins and their sons,

went to the abode of Ambikā, according to the instruction of Bharadvāja.

He worshipped that goddess with severe observances at midnight.

Thus, having completely given up food for three nights, that ruler of the earth, devoted to meditation on Pārvatī,

pleased Gaurī, the remover of distress of the surrendered, with proper prostrations and manifold hymns of praise.

Then, pleased with the devoted lord of the earth, that goddess

revealed her essential form, radiant as ten million moons.

Then Gaurī said to the king: "Speak, what is your desire?"

He also said: "May manhood be granted to him out of compassion."

Again the Great Goddess said: "The deed done by my devotees

cannot be altered even in hundreds of myriads of years."

The king said:

"This brahmin had an only son, and his lineage is destroyed by this deed.

How could such a man attain happiness without a son?"

The goddess said:

"By my grace, another excellent son will be born to him,

endowed with learning and modesty, long-lived, and pure of heart.

Let this girl, named Sāmavatī, daughter of that twice-born,

become the wife of Sumedhas and be joined in the pleasures of love."

Having spoken thus, the goddess vanished; and all of them, led by the king,

went to their respective homes and stood firm in her command.

That brahmin Sārasvata also, by the grace of the goddess,

obtained in no long time a son superior to the previous son.

And he gave that maiden Sāmavatī to that Sumedhas.

The couple enjoyed supreme happiness for a long time.

Sūta said:

Thus has been recounted the power of the king's wife Sīmantinī,

the devotee of Śiva, and the māhātmya of Śambhu has also been described.

Furthermore, I shall briefly describe the wondrous power

of Śiva's devotees, which is an abode of auspiciousness for the listeners.

Thus ends the ninth chapter, titled "Description of the Power of Sīmantinī", in the Brahmottarakhaṇḍa of the third [part] of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].