Vasishtha's Rebirth and the Curse of Urvashi

Shloka 1 (uttara.56.1)

रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं दीप्ततेजसम् ।। 56.1 ।।

rāmasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā | uvāca prāñjalirvākyaṃ rāghavaṃ dīptatejasam || 56.1 ||

Hearing Rama's words, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, with joined palms spoke this word to Raghava, blazing with splendor.

Shloka 2 (uttara.56.2)

निक्षिप्तदेहौ काकुत्स्थ कथं तौ द्विजपार्थिवौ । पुनर्देहेन संयोगं जग्मतुर्देवसम्मतौ ।। 56.2 ।।

nikṣiptadehau kākutstha kathaṃ tau dvijapārthivau | punardehena saṃyogaṃ jagmaturdevasammatau || 56.2 ||

"O Kakutstha, how did those two — a brahmin and a king — who had cast off their bodies, come again into union with a body, honoured by the gods?

Shloka 3 (uttara.56.3)

लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु रामश्चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजा लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभः ।। 56.3 ।।

lakṣmaṇenaivamuktastu rāmaścekṣvākunandanaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejā lakṣmaṇaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ || 56.3 ||

Thus addressed by Lakshmana, Rama, the delight of the Ikshvakus, the greatly splendorous bull among men, replied to Lakshmana.

Shloka 4 (uttara.56.4)

तौ परस्परशापेन देहावुत्सृज्य धार्मिकौ । अभूतां नृपविप्रर्षी वायुभूतौ तपोधनौ ।। 56.4 ।।

tau parasparaśāpena dehāvutsṛjya dhārmikau | abhūtāṃ nṛpaviprarṣī vāyubhūtau tapodhanau || 56.4 ||

"Those two righteous ones, a royal sage and a brahmin sage rich in austerity, having given up their bodies through a mutual curse, became beings of wind.

Shloka 5 (uttara.56.5)

अशरीरः शरीरस्य कृते ऽन्यस्य महामुनिः । वसिष्ठः सुमहातेजा जगाम पितुरन्तिकम् ।। 56.5 ।।

aśarīraḥ śarīrasya kṛte 'nyasya mahāmuniḥ | vasiṣṭhaḥ sumahātejā jagāma piturantikam || 56.5 ||

Bodiless, the great sage Vasishtha, of immense splendour, went to his father [Brahma] for the sake of obtaining another body.

Shloka 6 (uttara.56.6)

सो ऽभिवाद्य ततः पादौ देवदेवस्य धर्मवित् । पितामहमथोवाच वायुभूत इदं वचः ।। 56.6 ।।

so 'bhivādya tataḥ pādau devadevasya dharmavit | pitāmahamathovāca vāyubhūta idaṃ vacaḥ || 56.6 ||

He, the knower of dharma, having bowed to the feet of the god of gods, then, being now a form of wind, spoke these words to the Grandsire.

Shloka 7 (uttara.56.7)

भगवन्निमिशापेन विदेहत्वमुपागमम् । लोकनाथ महादेव अण्डजो ऽपि त्वमब्जजः ।। 56.7 ।।

bhagavannimiśāpena videhatvamupāgamam | lokanātha mahādeva aṇḍajo 'pi tvamabjajaḥ || 56.7 ||

"O Lord, through Nimi's curse I have come to a bodiless state. O Lord of the worlds, O great god, though egg-born you are also lotus-born.

Shloka 8 (uttara.56.8)

सर्वेषां देहहीनानां महद्दुःखं भविष्यति । लुप्यन्ते सर्वकार्याणि हीनदेहस्य वै प्रभो । देहस्यान्यस्य सद्भावे प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। 56.8 ।।

sarveṣāṃ dehahīnānāṃ mahadduḥkhaṃ bhaviṣyati | lupyante sarvakāryāṇi hīnadehasya vai prabho | dehasyānyasya sadbhāve prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 56.8 ||

For all who are bodiless there is bound to be great suffering; all of one's works fail, O Lord, for one deprived of a body. You should graciously grant me the existence of another body."

Shloka 9 (uttara.56.9)

तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूरमितप्रभः । मित्रावरुणजं तेजः प्रविश त्वं महायशः ।। 56.9 ।।

tamuvāca tato brahmā svayambhūramitaprabhaḥ | mitrāvaruṇajaṃ tejaḥ praviśa tvaṃ mahāyaśaḥ || 56.9 ||

Then Brahma, the Self-Existent One of measureless splendour, said to him: "O greatly renowned one, enter the potency born of Mitra and Varuna.

Shloka 10 (uttara.56.10)

अयोनिजस्त्वं भविता तत्रापि द्विजसत्तम । धर्मेण महता युक्तः पुनरेष्यसि मे वशम् ।। 56.10 ।।

ayonijastvaṃ bhavitā tatrāpi dvijasattama | dharmeṇa mahatā yuktaḥ punareṣyasi me vaśam || 56.10 ||

There too, O best of the twice-born, you shall be born without a womb; endowed with great righteousness, you shall again come under my sway."

Shloka 11 (uttara.56.11)

एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन चाभिवाद्य प्रदक्षिणम् । कृत्वा पितामहं तूर्णं प्रययौ वरुणालयम् ।। 56.11 ।।

evamuktastu devena cābhivādya pradakṣiṇam | kṛtvā pitāmahaṃ tūrṇaṃ prayayau varuṇālayam || 56.11 ||

Thus addressed by the god, having bowed and circumambulated the Grandsire, he swiftly went to Varuna's abode.

Shloka 12 (uttara.56.12)

तमेव कालं मित्रो ऽपि वरुणत्वमकारयत् । क्षीरोदेन सहोपेतः पूज्यमानः सुरोत्तमैः ।। 56.12 ।।

tameva kālaṃ mitro 'pi varuṇatvamakārayat | kṣīrodena sahopetaḥ pūjyamānaḥ surottamaiḥ || 56.12 ||

At that very time Mitra too assumed the state of Varuna, accompanied by Kshiroda, being worshipped by the best of gods.

Shloka 13 (uttara.56.13)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु उर्वशी परमाप्सराः । यदृच्छया तमुद्देशमाययौ सखिभिर्वृता ।। 56.13 ।।

etasminneva kāle tu urvaśī paramāpsarāḥ | yadṛcchayā tamuddeśamāyayau sakhibhirvṛtā || 56.13 ||

At this very time Urvashi, the supreme Apsara, surrounded by her companions, came by chance to that place.

Shloka 14 (uttara.56.14)

तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां क्रीडन्तीं वरुणालये । आविशत्परमो हर्षो वरुणं चोर्वशीकृते ।। 56.14 ।।

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ krīḍantīṃ varuṇālaye | āviśatparamo harṣo varuṇaṃ corvaśīkṛte || 56.14 ||

Seeing her, endowed with beauty, sporting in Varuna's abode, supreme joy entered Varuna on Urvashi's account.

Shloka 15 (uttara.56.15)

स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् । वरुणो वरयामास मैथुनायाप्सरोवराम् ।। 56.15 ।।

sa tāṃ padmapalāśākṣīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām | varuṇo varayāmāsa maithunāyāpsarovarām || 56.15 ||

Varuna sought her in union — her, the lotus-petal-eyed one, her face like the full moon, that foremost of Apsaras.

Shloka 16 (uttara.56.16)

प्रत्युवाच ततः सा तु वरुणं प्राञ्जलिः स्थिता । मित्रेणाहं वृता साक्षात्पूर्वमेव सुरेश्वर ।। 56.16 ।।

pratyuvāca tataḥ sā tu varuṇaṃ prāñjaliḥ sthitā | mitreṇāhaṃ vṛtā sākṣātpūrvameva sureśvara || 56.16 ||

Then she, standing with joined palms, replied to Varuna: "O lord of gods, I have already been chosen directly by Mitra before this."

Shloka 17 (uttara.56.17)

वरुणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं कन्दर्पशरपीडितः । इदं तेजः समुत्स्रक्ष्ये कुम्भे ऽस्मिन्देवनिर्मिते ।। 56.17 ।।

varuṇastvabravīdvākyaṃ kandarpaśarapīḍitaḥ | idaṃ tejaḥ samutsrakṣye kumbhe 'smindevanirmite || 56.17 ||

But Varuna, pained by the arrows of the god of love, spoke this word: "I shall release this potency of mine into this divinely-made jar.

Shloka 18 (uttara.56.18)

एवमुत्सृज्य सुश्रोणि त्वय्यहं वरवर्णिनि । कृतकामो भविष्यामि यदि नेच्छसि सङ्गमम् ।। 56.18 ।।

evamutsṛjya suśroṇi tvayyahaṃ varavarṇini | kṛtakāmo bhaviṣyāmi yadi necchasi saṅgamam || 56.18 ||

Thus releasing it, O fair-hipped one, O lady of lovely form, I shall have my desire fulfilled through you, even if you do not wish for union."

Shloka 19 (uttara.56.19)

तस्य तल्लोकपालस्य वरुणस्य सुभाषितम् । उर्वशी परमप्रीता श्रुत्वा वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। 56.19 ।।

tasya tallokapālasya varuṇasya subhāṣitam | urvaśī paramaprītā śrutvā vākyamuvāca ha || 56.19 ||

Hearing that well-spoken word of Varuna, guardian of that world-quarter, Urvashi, greatly pleased, spoke this word.

Shloka 20 (uttara.56.20)

काममेतद्भवत्वेवं हृदयं मे त्वयि स्थितम् । भावश्चाप्यधिकस्तुभ्यं देहो मित्रस्य तु प्रभो ।। 56.20 ।।

kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ hṛdayaṃ me tvayi sthitam | bhāvaścāpyadhikastubhyaṃ deho mitrasya tu prabho || 56.20 ||

"So let it be as you wish; my heart indeed rests in you, and my affection for you is even greater, O Lord — though my body belongs to Mitra."

Shloka 21 (uttara.56.21)

उर्वश्या एवमुक्तस्तु रेतस्तन्महदद्भुतम् । ज्वलदग्निशिखाप्रख्यं तस्मिन्कुम्भे ह्यपासृजत् ।। 56.21 ।।

urvaśyā evamuktastu retastanmahadadbhutam | jvaladagniśikhāprakhyaṃ tasminkumbhe hyapāsṛjat || 56.21 ||

Thus addressed by Urvashi, he released that great, wondrous seed, resembling a blazing flame of fire, into that jar.

Shloka 22 (uttara.56.22)

उर्वशी त्वगमत्तत्र मित्रो वै यत्र देवता । तां तु मित्रः सुसङ्क्रम्य उर्वशीमिदमब्रवीत् ।। 56.22 ।।

urvaśī tvagamattatra mitro vai yatra devatā | tāṃ tu mitraḥ susaṅkramya urvaśīmidamabravīt || 56.22 ||

Urvashi then went to where the god Mitra was. And Mitra, having approached Urvashi closely, spoke this to her.

Shloka 23 (uttara.56.23)

मया निमन्त्रिता पूर्वं कस्मात्त्वमवसर्जिता । पतिमन्यं वृतवती तस्मात्त्वं दुष्टचारिणी ।। 56.23 ।।

mayā nimantritā pūrvaṃ kasmāttvamavasarjitā | patimanyaṃ vṛtavatī tasmāttvaṃ duṣṭacāriṇī || 56.23 ||

"You were first invited by me — why then were you released? You have chosen another husband; therefore you are one of evil conduct.

Shloka 24 (uttara.56.24)

अनेन दुष्कृतेन त्वं मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता । मनुष्यलोकमास्थाय कञ्चित्कालं निवत्स्यसि ।। 56.24 ।।

anena duṣkṛtena tvaṃ matkrodhakaluṣīkṛtā | manuṣyalokamāsthāya kañcitkālaṃ nivatsyasi || 56.24 ||

By this misdeed, tainted by my anger, you shall dwell for some time in the world of men.

Shloka 25 (uttara.56.25)

बुधस्य पुत्रो राजर्षिः काशीराजः पुरूरवाः । तमद्य गच्छ दुर्बुद्धे स ते भर्ता भविष्यति ।। 56.25 ।।

budhasya putro rājarṣiḥ kāśīrājaḥ purūravāḥ | tamadya gaccha durbuddhe sa te bhartā bhaviṣyati || 56.25 ||

The royal sage Pururavas, king of Kashi, son of Budha — go to him now, O foolish one; he shall be your husband."

Shloka 26 (uttara.56.26)

ततः सा शापदोषेण पुरूरवसमभ्यगात् । प्रतियाते पुरूरवं बुधस्यात्मजमौरसम् ।। 56.26 ।।

tataḥ sā śāpadoṣeṇa purūravasamabhyagāt | pratiyāte purūravaṃ budhasyātmajamaurasam || 56.26 ||

Then, through the fault of that curse, she went to Pururavas; she came before Pururavas, the true-born son of Budha.

Shloka 27 (uttara.56.27)

तस्य जज्ञे ततः श्रीमानायुः पुत्रो महाबलः । नहुषो यस्य पुत्रस्तु बभूवेन्द्रसमद्युतिः ।। 56.27 ।।

tasya jajñe tataḥ śrīmānāyuḥ putro mahābalaḥ | nahuṣo yasya putrastu babhūvendrasamadyutiḥ || 56.27 ||

From him was born the glorious, mighty son Ayu; and his son was Nahusha, who became equal in splendour to Indra.

Shloka 28 (uttara.56.28)

वज्रमुत्सृज्य वृत्राय भ्रान्ते ऽथ त्रिदिवेश्वरे । शतं वर्षसहस्राणि येनेन्द्रत्वं प्रशासितम् ।। 56.28 ।।

vajramutsṛjya vṛtrāya bhrānte 'tha tridiveśvare | śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇi yenendratvaṃ praśāsitam || 56.28 ||

When the lord of the three worlds, having hurled the thunderbolt at Vritra, went wandering, it was he, Nahusha, who ruled the office of Indra for a hundred thousand years.

Shloka 29 (uttara.56.29)

सा तेन शापेन जगाम भूमिं तदोर्वशी चारुदती सुनेत्रा । बहूनि वर्षाण्यवसच्च सुभ्रूः शापक्षयादिन्द्रसदो ययौ च ।। 56.29 ।।

sā tena śāpena jagāma bhūmiṃ tadorvaśī cārudatī sunetrā | bahūni varṣāṇyavasacca subhrūḥ śāpakṣayādindrasado yayau ca || 56.29 ||

Through that curse, lovely-toothed, fair-eyed Urvashi then went down to the earth; that fair-browed one dwelt there for many years, and when the curse expired, she returned to Indra's abode.