Ch 13 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

१.१३ त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः । पुरूरवस उर्वश्याश्च चरित्रवर्णनम् । सूत उवाच । सुद्युने तु दिवं याते राज्यं चक्रे पुरूरवाः । सगुणश्च सुरूपश्च प्रजारञ्जनतत्परः ॥ १ ॥ प्रतिष्ठाने पुरे रम्ये राज्यं सर्वनमस्कृतम् । चकार सर्वधर्मज्ञः प्रजारक्षणतत्परः ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Sūta said :-- O Maharṣis! When the king Sudyumna had gone up to heavens, the religious king Pururavā, endowed with great beauty and many qualities, and able to please the minds of his subjects began to govern his kingdom well, according to Dharma, with his heart intent on governing his people.

Ch 13 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्त्रः सुगुप्तस्तस्यासीत्परत्राभिज्ञता तथा । सदैवोत्साहशक्तिश्च प्रभुशक्तिस्तथोत्तमा ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

No body knew what his counsel was, but he was very clever in knowing otherś counsels. He was always highly energetic and his lordly power was great.

Ch 13 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सामदानादयः सर्वे वशगास्तस्य भूपतेः । वर्णाश्रमान्स्वधर्मस्थान्कुर्वन् राज्यं शशास ह ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

The four methods of warfare, (1) con-ciliation, (2) giving gifts, (3) sowing dissensions and (4) war, were fully under his control. He saw that his subjects practised religion according to Varnāśram (Colours and stages of life), and thus he began to govern his kingdom.

Ch 13 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यज्ञांश्च विविधांश्चक्रे स राजा बहुदक्षिणान् । दानानि च पवित्राणि ददावथ नराधिपः ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Pururavā, the lord of men, performed various sacrifices with abundance of Dakṣiṇās (sacrificial fees) and also gave away much in various charities, causing great wonder and astonishment.

Ch 13 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्य रूपगुणौदार्यशीलद्रविणविक्रमान् । श्रुत्वोर्वशी वशीभूता चकमे तं नराधिपम् ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

His extra-ordinary beauty and qualities, liberality and good nature, his unbounded wealth and prowess made the Apsarā Urvaśī (celestial nymph) think of him often and she wanted him to satisfy her.

Ch 13 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मशापाभितप्ता सा मानुषं लोकमास्थिता । गुणिनं तं नृपं मत्वा वरयामास मानिनी ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Some time passed when that procud Urvaśī had to descend on this earth, due to a curse pronounced on her by a Brāhmin; and she chose the king Pururavā as her husband, thinking him to be endowed with all the qualities.

Ch 13 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

समयं चेदृशं कृत्वा स्थिता तत्र वराङ्गना । एतावुरणकौ राजन्न्यस्तौ रक्षस्व मानद ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

She then addressed the king and made the following contract :-- “O king, giving honour due to every body! I keep these two young sheep in trust and deposit with you; kindly look after these and, then, my honour will be preserved by you.

Ch 13 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

घृतं मे भक्षणं नित्यं नान्यत्किञ्चिन्नृपाशनम् । नेक्षे त्वां च महाराज नग्नमन्यत्र मैथुनात् ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

O king! I will take ghee daily and nothing else for my food; and there is one word more; O king! Let me not see you naked, except when you hold sexual intercourse.

Ch 13 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भाषाबन्धस्त्वयं राजन् यदि भग्नो भविष्यति । तदा त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

O king I say this truly, that, in case there be any breach in this contract I will instantly leave you and go away.” The king accepted this contract of Urvaśī.

Ch 13 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अङ्गीकृतं च तद्राज्ञा कामिन्या भाषितं तु यत् । स्थिता भाषणबन्धेन शापानुगहकाम्यया ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

Urvaśī, too, remained there according to the above contract and also with a view to pass away the period of her curse.

Ch 13 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रेमे तदा स भूपालो लीनो वर्षगणान्बहून् । धर्मकर्मादिकं त्यक्त्वा चोर्वश्या मदमोहितः ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

During this time the king was fascinated with the love of Urvaśī and became so very much attached to her, that he left all his duties and dharma and remained long for many, many years in enjoying Urvaśī.

Ch 13 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एकचित्तस्तु सञ्जातस्तन्मनस्को महीपतिः । न शशाक तया हीनः क्षणमप्यतिमोहितः ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

The king’s mind was so deeply absorbed in her, that he could not remain alone without her, even for a moment.

Ch 13 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं वर्षगणान्ते तु स्वर्गस्थः पाकशासनः । उर्वशीं नागतां दृष्ट्वा गन्धर्वानाह देवराट् ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

Thus many years passed away, when, once on a time, Indra, the lord of the Devas, not seeing Urvaśī, asked the Gandarbhas and said :--

Ch 13 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उर्वशीमानयध्वं भो गन्धर्वाः सर्व एव हि । हृत्वोरणौ गृहात्तस्य भूपतेः समये किल ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

“O Gandarbhas! Better go and steal away the two young sheep in a proper time from the palace of Pururavā, and then bring Urvaśī here.

Ch 13 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उर्वशीरहितं स्थानं मदीयं नातिशोभते । येन केनाप्युपायेन तामानयत कामिनीम् ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

My Nandana garden is now void of all beauty without Urvaśī; so bring the lady here any how or other.”

Ch 13 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्युक्तास्तेऽथ गन्धर्वा विश्वावसुपुरोगमाः । ततो गत्वा महागाढे तमसि प्रत्युपस्थिते ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Thus spoken by Indra, Viśvāvasu and other Devas went to Pururavā’s palace; and when it was dark in the night, and when Pururavā was holding sexual intercourse with Urvaśī, stole away the two young sheep.

Ch 13 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जह्रुस्तावुरणौ देवा रममाणं विलोक्य तम् । चक्रन्दतुस्तदा तौ तु ह्रियमाणौ विहायसा ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

They, when being carried away in the sky, cried out so piteously that Urvaśī came to hear that as if of her two sons, and angrily spoke to the king :--

Ch 13 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उर्वशी तदुपाकर्ण्य क्रन्दितं सुतयोरिव । कुपितोवाच राजानं समयोऽयं कृतो मया ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

“O king! Now the contract that I made with you is verily fulfilled! It is that I placed my implicit confidence on you that this my misfortune has befallen on me;

Ch 13 Verse 20-21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नष्टाहं तव विश्वासाद्धृतौ चोरैर्ममोरणौ । राजन्पुत्रसमावेतौ त्वं किं शेषे स्त्रिया समः ॥ २० ॥ हतास्म्यहं कुनाथेन नपुंसा वीरमानिना । उरणौ मे गतौ चाद्य सदा प्राणप्रियौ मम ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

See! the thieves are stealing away the two sheep, my sons as they were! How then are you sleeping here like a woman? Alas! I am ruined in having an impotent husband who vainly boasts of his prowess!

Ch 13 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं विलप्यमानां तां दृष्ट्वा राजा विमोहितः । नग्न एव ययौ तूर्णं पृष्ठतः पृथिवीपतिः ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Where are my two young sheep to-day that are dearer to me than my life?” Thus seeing Urvaśī wailing, the king Pururavā, the lord of the Universe, ran after the Gandharvas instantly without any sense as it were, left in him, naked.

Ch 13 Verse 23-24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विद्युत्प्रकाशिता तत्र गन्धर्वैर्नृपवेश्मनि । नग्नभूतस्तया दृष्टो भूपतिर्गन्तुकामया ॥ २३ ॥ त्यक्त्वोरणौ गताः सर्वे गन्धर्वाः पथि पार्थिवः । नग्नो जग्राह तौ श्रान्तो जगाम स्वगृहं प्रति ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

The Gandharvas, then, cast rays of lightning in that room, and Urvaśī, willing to leave, saw the king naked when the Gandharvas left the two young sheep there and went away. The tired king brought the two sheep back to his house in that naked state.

Ch 13 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदोर्वशीं गतां दृष्ट्वा विललापातिदुःखितः । नग्नं वीक्ष्य पतिं नारी गता सा वरवर्णिनी ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Then Urvaśī, too, seeing the husband naked, went away immediately to the Devī loka. Seeing Urvaśī going away, the king wailed very much with a very grievous heart.

Ch 13 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

क्रन्दन्स देशदेशेषु बभ्राम नृपतिः स्वयम् । तच्चित्तो विह्वलः शोचन्विवशः काममोहितः ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

Then, being very much bewildered by the bereavement of Urvaśī, with his senses beyond control, and deluded by passion, wandered about in various countries, crying and giving vent to sorrow.

Ch 13 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भ्रमन्वै सकलां पृथ्वीं कुरुक्षेत्रे ददर्श ताम् । दृष्ट्वा संहृष्टवदनः प्राह सूक्तं नृपोत्तमः ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

Thus, wandering all over the globe, he came once to Kurukṣettra and saw Urvaśī; then with a gladdened face said :-- “O beloved! Wait, wait for a moment; my mind is all absorbed in you; it is quite innocent and submissive to you.

Ch 13 Verse 28-29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अये जाये तिष्ठ तिष्ठ घोरे न त्यक्तुमर्हसि । मां त्वं त्वन्मनसं कान्तं वशगं चाप्यनागसम् ॥ २८ ॥ स देहोऽयं पतत्यत्र देवि दूरं हृतस्त्वया । खादन्त्येनं वृकाः काकास्त्वया त्यक्तं वरोरु यत् ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

So you ought not to forsake me in such a dire difficult time. O Devī! For the sake of you, I have travelled very far. O Beautiful one! The body that you embraced before, will now, forsaken by you, fall here and will be devoured by crows and wolves, and other carnivorous animals.”

Ch 13 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं विलपमानं तं राजानं प्राह चोर्वशी । दुःखितं कृपणं श्रान्तं कामार्तं विवशं भृशम् ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Seeing the king, tired and passion stricken, greatly distressed and with a very sorrowful heart and wailing,

Ch 13 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उर्वश्युवाच । मूर्खोऽसि नृपशार्दूल ज्ञानं कुत्र गतं तव । क्वापि सख्यं न च स्त्रीणां वृकाणामिव पार्थिव ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

Urvaśī spoke out :-- “O king! You are certainly a quite senseless man; whither has gone your extraordinary knowledge now? O king! Do you not know that the pure unalloyed love of women cannot take place with any other as the love of a wolf cannot fall on any man.

Ch 13 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न विश्वासो हि कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु चौरेषु पार्थिवैः । गृहं गच्छ सुखं भुङ्क्ष्व मा विषादे मनः कृथाः ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

Therefore the earthly men ought never to trust a bit to women and thieves. So go back to your palace and enjoy the pleasures of the kingdom; do not drown your mind further in sorrows.”

Ch 13 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्येवं बोधितो राजा न विवेदातिमोहितः । दुःखं च परमं प्राप्तः स्वैरिणीस्नेहयन्त्रितः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

king Pururavā, though thus brought to senses by Urvaśī, was so much fascinated by her love that his heart did not feel any consolation; rather he felt indescribable pain, being held up in bondage by the love of Urvaśī.

Ch 13 Verse 34-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सूत उवाच । इति सर्वं समाख्यातमुर्वशीचरितं महत् । वेदे विस्तरितं चैतत्सङ्क्षेपात्कथितं मया ॥ ३४ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां प्रथमस्कन्धे पुरूरवस उर्वश्याश्च चरित्रवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ॥ १.१३॥

English Translation

O Munis! Thus I have described to you the character of Urvaśī; it is described, in detail, in the Vedas; I have stated this in brief. Thus ends the thirteenth chapter of the 1st Skandha of the characters Urvaśī and Pururavā; in the Mahāpurānam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.