Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 9 Chapter 14:17-30

Book 9: Chapter 14

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 14: Verses 17-30
A brief survey of the Lunar Dynasty

Having developed a human disposition, thanks to the curse of the gods Mitra and Varurna, that charming damsel saw Pururava (the foremost of men), who was as handsome as Love, and, controlling herself, arrived in his presence. Seeing that celestial nymph, Pururava spoke to her in a polite language (as follows), his eyes blooming with delight and the hair of his body standing on end. The king said : I welcome you, 0 charming one, let yourself be (comfortably) seated. What shall we do for you? Revel with me here. Let our enjoyment extend over numberless years.[1]Urvasi replied : Whose mind and eyes will not be riveted on you, O handsome prince? Lo! on (mentally) reaching your bosom, my presence of mind leaves me, seized as I am with a longing to enjoy life with you.Please take care, 0 king showing honour to others, of these two rams as my pledges. (Till then) I shall revel with you; (for) he who is praiseworthy (from the point of view of comeliness and other virtues) has been declared as acceptable to women. Ghee (alone) will be my food, 0 valiant one, and I should not see you unclothed except during coition. Full of great joy, the king accepted (all) these conditions, saying, "Amen"! "What wonderful beauty, what lovely gesture, that ravish humanity! What human being would not accept you, a celestial lady, come of her own accord?" Along-with her, who delighted him (in everyway) in a befitting manner that jewel among men revelled at will in the pleasure-gardens of the gods such as the Caitraratha (the garden of Kubera). Revelling with that celestial nymph emitting the fragrance of lotus filaments and captivated by the (sweet) odour of her mouth, Pururava rejoiced for many years. Not finding Urvasi (in his court) Indra earnestly urged the Gandharvas to look for her, saying:-"Bereft of Urvasi, my court does not look very charming." Approaching at dead of night, when darkness fully prevailed, they stole away the two rams pledged with the king by his wife Urvasi. Hearing the scream of the two rams (who were dear as sons), while they were being carried away, Urvasi (the celestial lady) exclaimed:-"I am robbed of my life (as it were) by my unworthy husband, lacking in manliness though accounting himself a (great) hero. By putting faith in him, I am ruined and have been despoiled by robbers of my rams (who were dear as my own progeny). At night he sleeps in fright like a woman and behaves as a man during the day time." Thus pierced with arrows in the form of pungent words as an elephant with goads, and seizing a sword, Pururava angrily rushed forth in (that dark) night with no clothes on.

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References

  1. Vide IX. I. 35

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