The Story of Pururavas and Urvashi

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.13.1)

सूत उवाच । सुद्युने तु दिवं याते राज्यं चक्रे पुरूरवाः । सगुणश्च सुरूपश्च प्रजारञ्जनतत्परः ॥ 13.1 ॥

sūta uvāca sudyune tu divaṁ yāte rājyaṁ cakre purūravāḥ saguṇaśca surūpaśca prajārañjanatatparaḥ

Suta said: When Sudyumna had gone to heaven, Pururavas took up the kingdom; endowed with virtues and of fine form, devoted to delighting his subjects.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.13.2)

प्रतिष्ठाने पुरे रम्ये राज्यं सर्वनमस्कृतम् । चकार सर्वधर्मज्ञः प्रजारक्षणतत्परः ॥ 13.2 ॥

pratiṣṭhāne pure ramye rājyaṁ sarvanamaskṛtam cakāra sarvadharmajñaḥ prajārakṣaṇatatparaḥ

In the lovely city of Pratishthana, he ruled a kingdom honored by all, that knower of all dharma, devoted to protecting his subjects.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.13.3)

मन्त्रः सुगुप्तस्तस्यासीत्परत्राभिज्ञता तथा । सदैवोत्साहशक्तिश्च प्रभुशक्तिस्तथोत्तमा ॥ 13.3 ॥

mantraḥ suguptastasyāsītparatrābhijñatā tathā sadaivotsāhaśaktiśca prabhuśaktistathottamā

His counsel was well-guarded, and likewise he had knowledge of the affairs of others; he ever possessed the power of energy, and likewise the supreme power of authority.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.13.4)

सामदानादयः सर्वे वशगास्तस्य भूपतेः । वर्णाश्रमान्स्वधर्मस्थान्कुर्वन् राज्यं शशास ह ॥ 13.4 ॥

sāmadānādayaḥ sarve vaśagāstasya bhūpateḥ varṇāśramānsvadharmasthānkurvan rājyaṁ śaśāsa ha

All the four means beginning with conciliation and gift-giving were at that king's command; keeping the social orders each in its own dharma, he governed the kingdom.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.13.5)

यज्ञांश्च विविधांश्चक्रे स राजा बहुदक्षिणान् । दानानि च पवित्राणि ददावथ नराधिपः ॥ 13.5 ॥

yajñāṁśca vividhāṁścakre sa rājā bahudakṣiṇān dānāni ca pavitrāṇi dadāvatha narādhipaḥ

That king performed various sacrifices, rich in sacrificial fees; and that lord of men gave sacred gifts as well.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.13.6)

तस्य रूपगुणौदार्यशीलद्रविणविक्रमान् । श्रुत्वोर्वशी वशीभूता चकमे तं नराधिपम् ॥ 13.6 ॥

tasya rūpaguṇaudāryaśīladraviṇavikramān śrutvorvaśī vaśībhūtā cakame taṁ narādhipam

Hearing of his beauty, virtues, generosity, character, wealth, and valor, Urvashi, coming under his sway, fell in love with that lord of men.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.13.7)

ब्रह्मशापाभितप्ता सा मानुषं लोकमास्थिता । गुणिनं तं नृपं मत्वा वरयामास मानिनी ॥ 13.7 ॥

brahmaśāpābhitaptā sā mānuṣaṁ lokamāsthitā guṇinaṁ taṁ nṛpaṁ matvā varayāmāsa māninī

Scorched by a curse from Brahma, she had come to dwell in the human world; considering that king full of virtues, that proud woman chose him as her husband.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.13.8)

समयं चेदृशं कृत्वा स्थिता तत्र वराङ्गना । एतावुरणकौ राजन्न्यस्तौ रक्षस्व मानद ॥ 13.8 ॥

samayaṁ cedṛśaṁ kṛtvā sthitā tatra varāṅganā etāvuraṇakau rājannyastau rakṣasva mānada

Having made such a condition, that excellent woman stayed there: 'O king, these two lambs are entrusted to you — protect them, O giver of honor.'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.13.9)

घृतं मे भक्षणं नित्यं नान्यत्किञ्चिन्नृपाशनम् । नेक्षे त्वां च महाराज नग्नमन्यत्र मैथुनात् ॥ 13.9 ॥

ghṛtaṁ me bhakṣaṇaṁ nityaṁ nānyatkiñcinnṛpāśanam nekṣe tvāṁ ca mahārāja nagnamanyatra maithunāt

'Ghee alone shall ever be my food — nothing else, O king, shall I eat; and, O great king, I shall never see you naked except during our union.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.13.10)

भाषाबन्धस्त्वयं राजन् यदि भग्नो भविष्यति । तदा त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ 13.10 ॥

bhāṣābandhastvayaṁ rājan yadi bhagno bhaviṣyati tadā tyaktvā gamiṣyāmi satyametadbravīmyaham

'If this compact of words, O king, should ever be broken, then I shall leave and depart — this I speak truly.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.13.11)

अङ्गीकृतं च तद्राज्ञा कामिन्या भाषितं तु यत् । स्थिता भाषणबन्धेन शापानुगहकाम्यया ॥ 13.11 ॥

aṅgīkṛtaṁ ca tadrājñā kāminyā bhāṣitaṁ tu yat sthitā bhāṣaṇabandhena śāpānugahakāmyayā

The king agreed to whatever that beloved woman had spoken; she stayed there bound by that compact of words, out of a wish following the curse.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.13.12)

रेमे तदा स भूपालो लीनो वर्षगणान्बहून् । धर्मकर्मादिकं त्यक्त्वा चोर्वश्या मदमोहितः ॥ 13.12 ॥

reme tadā sa bhūpālo līno varṣagaṇānbahūn dharmakarmādikaṁ tyaktvā corvaśyā madamohitaḥ

That king then sported, absorbed for many years, having abandoned his religious duties and the rest, deluded by passion for Urvashi.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.13.13)

एकचित्तस्तु सञ्जातस्तन्मनस्को महीपतिः । न शशाक तया हीनः क्षणमप्यतिमोहितः ॥ 13.13 ॥

ekacittastu sañjātastanmanasko mahīpatiḥ na śaśāka tayā hīnaḥ kṣaṇamapyatimohitaḥ

The king became of a single mind, his thoughts fixed on her alone; utterly deluded, he could not bear to be without her even for a moment.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.13.14)

एवं वर्षगणान्ते तु स्वर्गस्थः पाकशासनः । उर्वशीं नागतां दृष्ट्वा गन्धर्वानाह देवराट् ॥ 13.14 ॥

evaṁ varṣagaṇānte tu svargasthaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ urvaśīṁ nāgatāṁ dṛṣṭvā gandharvānāha devarāṭ

Thus, after many years had passed, Pakashasana, in heaven, seeing that Urvashi had not returned, the king of gods said to the Gandharvas:

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.13.15)

उर्वशीमानयध्वं भो गन्धर्वाः सर्व एव हि । हृत्वोरणौ गृहात्तस्य भूपतेः समये किल ॥ 13.15 ॥

urvaśīmānayadhvaṁ bho gandharvāḥ sarva eva hi hṛtvoraṇau gṛhāttasya bhūpateḥ samaye kila

'Bring back Urvashi, O Gandharvas, all of you indeed; steal the two lambs from that king's house, at the right time.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.13.16)

उर्वशीरहितं स्थानं मदीयं नातिशोभते । येन केनाप्युपायेन तामानयत कामिनीम् ॥ 13.16 ॥

urvaśīrahitaṁ sthānaṁ madīyaṁ nātiśobhate yena kenāpyupāyena tāmānayata kāminīm

'My abode does not shine well without Urvashi; by whatever means, bring back that beloved woman.'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.13.17)

इत्युक्तास्तेऽथ गन्धर्वा विश्वावसुपुरोगमाः । ततो गत्वा महागाढे तमसि प्रत्युपस्थिते ॥ 13.17 ॥

ityuktāste'tha gandharvā viśvāvasupurogamāḥ tato gatvā mahāgāḍhe tamasi pratyupasthite

Thus instructed, those Gandharvas, headed by Vishvavasu, then went there; and when deep darkness had come on,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.13.18)

जह्रुस्तावुरणौ देवा रममाणं विलोक्य तम् । चक्रन्दतुस्तदा तौ तु ह्रियमाणौ विहायसा ॥ 13.18 ॥

jahrustāvuraṇau devā ramamāṇaṁ vilokya tam cakrandatustadā tau tu hriyamāṇau vihāyasā

the gods stole the two lambs, seeing him absorbed in his pleasure; then those two, as they were being carried off through the sky, cried out.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.13.19)

उर्वशी तदुपाकर्ण्य क्रन्दितं सुतयोरिव । कुपितोवाच राजानं समयोऽयं कृतो मया ॥ 13.19 ॥

urvaśī tadupākarṇya kranditaṁ sutayoriva kupitovāca rājānaṁ samayo'yaṁ kṛto mayā

Urvashi, hearing that crying, as of her own sons, angrily said to the king: 'This is the compact that I made —'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.13.20)

नष्टाहं तव विश्वासाद्धृतौ चोरैर्ममोरणौ । राजन्पुत्रसमावेतौ त्वं किं शेषे स्त्रिया समः ॥ 13.20 ॥

naṣṭāhaṁ tava viśvāsāddhṛtau corairmamoraṇau rājanputrasamāvetau tvaṁ kiṁ śeṣe striyā samaḥ

'— I am ruined through my trust in you: my two lambs have been stolen by thieves, O king, as dear to me as sons; and you — do you lie there like a mere woman?'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.13.21)

हतास्म्यहं कुनाथेन नपुंसा वीरमानिना । उरणौ मे गतौ चाद्य सदा प्राणप्रियौ मम ॥ 13.21 ॥

hatāsmyahaṁ kunāthena napuṁsā vīramāninā uraṇau me gatau cādya sadā prāṇapriyau mama

'I am ruined, having a worthless lord, an impotent man who fancies himself a hero! My two lambs, ever as dear to me as life, are gone today.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.13.22)

एवं विलप्यमानां तां दृष्ट्वा राजा विमोहितः । नग्न एव ययौ तूर्णं पृष्ठतः पृथिवीपतिः ॥ 13.22 ॥

evaṁ vilapyamānāṁ tāṁ dṛṣṭvā rājā vimohitaḥ nagna eva yayau tūrṇaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ

Seeing her lamenting thus, the king, utterly bewildered, went at once, naked as he was, in pursuit, that lord of the earth.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.13.23)

विद्युत्प्रकाशिता तत्र गन्धर्वैर्नृपवेश्मनि । नग्नभूतस्तया दृष्टो भूपतिर्गन्तुकामया ॥ 13.23 ॥

vidyutprakāśitā tatra gandharvairnṛpaveśmani nagnabhūtastayā dṛṣṭo bhūpatirgantukāmayā

There, the Gandharvas made a flash of lightning in the king's chamber, and by it he, the king, was seen naked by her, who was now eager to depart.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.13.24)

त्यक्त्वोरणौ गताः सर्वे गन्धर्वाः पथि पार्थिवः । नग्नो जग्राह तौ श्रान्तो जगाम स्वगृहं प्रति ॥ 13.24 ॥

tyaktvoraṇau gatāḥ sarve gandharvāḥ pathi pārthivaḥ nagno jagrāha tau śrānto jagāma svagṛhaṁ prati

All the Gandharvas, leaving the two lambs on the road, departed; the king, naked, took them up, and, exhausted, went back toward his own home.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.13.25)

तदोर्वशीं गतां दृष्ट्वा विललापातिदुःखितः । नग्नं वीक्ष्य पतिं नारी गता सा वरवर्णिनी ॥ 13.25 ॥

tadorvaśīṁ gatāṁ dṛṣṭvā vilalāpātiduḥkhitaḥ nagnaṁ vīkṣya patiṁ nārī gatā sā varavarṇinī

Then, seeing that Urvashi had gone, he lamented, exceedingly sorrowful; for that fair woman, having seen her husband naked, had departed.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.13.26)

क्रन्दन्स देशदेशेषु बभ्राम नृपतिः स्वयम् । तच्चित्तो विह्वलः शोचन्विवशः काममोहितः ॥ 13.26 ॥

krandansa deśadeśeṣu babhrāma nṛpatiḥ svayam taccitto vihvalaḥ śocanvivaśaḥ kāmamohitaḥ

That king himself, weeping, wandered from land to land, his mind fixed on her, distraught, grieving, helpless, deluded by desire.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.13.27)

भ्रमन्वै सकलां पृथ्वीं कुरुक्षेत्रे ददर्श ताम् । दृष्ट्वा संहृष्टवदनः प्राह सूक्तं नृपोत्तमः ॥ 13.27 ॥

bhramanvai sakalāṁ pṛthvīṁ kurukṣetre dadarśa tām dṛṣṭvā saṁhṛṣṭavadanaḥ prāha sūktaṁ nṛpottamaḥ

Wandering indeed over the whole earth, he saw her at Kurukshetra; seeing her, his face lit with joy, that best of kings spoke these fitting words:

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.13.28)

अये जाये तिष्ठ तिष्ठ घोरे न त्यक्तुमर्हसि । मां त्वं त्वन्मनसं कान्तं वशगं चाप्यनागसम् ॥ 13.28 ॥

aye jāye tiṣṭha tiṣṭha ghore na tyaktumarhasi māṁ tvaṁ tvanmanasaṁ kāntaṁ vaśagaṁ cāpyanāgasam

'Ah, my wife! Stay, stay, O terrible one — you ought not to abandon me, your own beloved, devoted to your mind and heart, and blameless.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.13.29)

स देहोऽयं पतत्यत्र देवि दूरं हृतस्त्वया । खादन्त्येनं वृकाः काकास्त्वया त्यक्तं वरोरु यत् ॥ 13.29 ॥

sa deho'yaṁ patatyatra devi dūraṁ hṛtastvayā khādantyenaṁ vṛkāḥ kākāstvayā tyaktaṁ varoru yat

'This body of mine falls here, O Devi, carried far away by you; the wolves and crows will devour it, since it is abandoned by you, O fair-thighed one.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.13.30)

एवं विलपमानं तं राजानं प्राह चोर्वशी । दुःखितं कृपणं श्रान्तं कामार्तं विवशं भृशम् ॥ 13.30 ॥

evaṁ vilapamānaṁ taṁ rājānaṁ prāha corvaśī duḥkhitaṁ kṛpaṇaṁ śrāntaṁ kāmārtaṁ vivaśaṁ bhṛśam

To that king, lamenting thus — sorrowful, pitiable, exhausted, tormented by desire, utterly helpless — Urvashi then said:

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.13.31)

उर्वश्युवाच । मूर्खोऽसि नृपशार्दूल ज्ञानं कुत्र गतं तव । क्वापि सख्यं न च स्त्रीणां वृकाणामिव पार्थिव ॥ 13.31 ॥

urvaśyuvāca mūrkho'si nṛpaśārdūla jñānaṁ kutra gataṁ tava kvāpi sakhyaṁ na ca strīṇāṁ vṛkāṇāmiva pārthiva

Urvashi said: You are a fool, O tiger among kings — where has your wisdom gone? There is nowhere true friendship with women, O king, just as there is none with wolves.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.13.32)

न विश्वासो हि कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु चौरेषु पार्थिवैः । गृहं गच्छ सुखं भुङ्क्ष्व मा विषादे मनः कृथाः ॥ 13.32 ॥

na viśvāso hi kartavyaḥ strīṣu caureṣu pārthivaiḥ gṛhaṁ gaccha sukhaṁ bhuṅkṣva mā viṣāde manaḥ kṛthāḥ

Kings should place no trust at all in women, or in thieves; go home, enjoy happiness, and do not set your mind on despair.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.13.33)

इत्येवं बोधितो राजा न विवेदातिमोहितः । दुःखं च परमं प्राप्तः स्वैरिणीस्नेहयन्त्रितः ॥ 13.33 ॥

ityevaṁ bodhito rājā na vivedātimohitaḥ duḥkhaṁ ca paramaṁ prāptaḥ svairiṇīsnehayantritaḥ

Though thus counseled, the king, utterly deluded, understood nothing, and, bound by love for that wayward woman, attained the greatest sorrow.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.13.34)

सूत उवाच । इति सर्वं समाख्यातमुर्वशीचरितं महत् । वेदे विस्तरितं चैतत्सङ्क्षेपात्कथितं मया ॥ 13.34 ॥

sūta uvāca iti sarvaṁ samākhyātamurvaśīcaritaṁ mahat vede vistaritaṁ caitatsaṅkṣepātkathitaṁ mayā

Suta said: Thus has this whole great story of Urvashi's deeds been recounted; it is told at length in the Veda — this I have told in brief.