Adhyaya 14

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच अथात: श्रुयतां राजन् वंश: सोमस्य पावन: । यस्मिन्नैलादयो भूपा: कीर्त्यन्ते पुण्यकीर्तय: ॥ १ ॥

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī said to Mahārāja Parīkṣit: O King, thus far you have heard the description of the dynasty of the sun-god. Now hear the most glorious and purifying description of the dynasty of the moon-god. This description mentions kings like Aila [Purūravā] of whom it is glorious to hear.

Verse 2

सहस्रशिरस: पुंसो नाभिह्रदसरोरुहात् । जातस्यासीत् सुतो धातुरत्रि: पितृसमो गुणै: ॥ २ ॥

Lord Viṣṇu [Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu] is also known as Sahasra-śīrṣā Puruṣa. From the lake of His navel sprang a lotus, on which Lord Brahmā was generated. Atri, the son of Lord Brahmā, was as qualified as his father.

Verse 3

तस्य द‍ृग्भ्योऽभवत् पुत्र: सोमोऽमृतमय: किल । विप्रौषध्युडुगणानां ब्रह्मणा कल्पित: पति: ॥ ३ ॥

From Atri’s tears of jubilation was born a son named Soma, the moon, who was full of soothing rays. Lord Brahmā appointed him the director of the brāhmaṇas, drugs and luminaries.

Verse 4

सोऽयजद् राजसूयेन विजित्य भुवनत्रयम् । पत्नीं बृहस्पतेर्दर्पात् तारां नामाहरद् बलात् ॥ ४ ॥

After conquering the three worlds [the upper, middle and lower planetary systems], Soma, the moon-god, performed a great sacrifice known as the Rājasūya-yajña. Because he was very much puffed up, he forcibly kidnapped Bṛhaspati’s wife, whose name was Tārā.

Verse 5

यदा स देवगुरुणा याचितोऽभीक्ष्णशो मदात् । नात्यजत् तत्कृते जज्ञे सुरदानवविग्रह: ॥ ५ ॥

Although requested again and again by Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, Soma did not return Tārā. This was due to his false pride. Consequently, a fight ensued between the demigods and the demons.

Verse 6

शुक्रो बृहस्पतेर्द्वेषादग्रहीत् सासुरोडुपम् । हरो गुरुसुतं स्‍नेहात् सर्वभूतगणावृत: ॥ ६ ॥

Because of enmity between Bṛhaspati and Śukra, Śukra took the side of the moon-god and was joined by the demons. But Lord Śiva, because of affection for the son of his spiritual master, joined the side of Bṛhaspati and was accompanied by all the ghosts and hobgoblins.

Verse 7

सर्वदेवगणोपेतो महेन्द्रो गुरुमन्वयात् । सुरासुरविनाशोऽभूत् समरस्तारकामय: ॥ ७ ॥

King Indra, accompanied by all kinds of demigods, joined the side of Bṛhaspati. Thus there was a great fight, destroying both demons and demigods, only for the sake of Tārā, Bṛhaspati’s wife.

Verse 8

निवेदितोऽथाङ्गिरसा सोमं निर्भर्त्स्य विश्वकृत् । तारां स्वभर्त्रे प्रायच्छदन्तर्वत्नीमवैत् पति: ॥ ८ ॥

When Lord Brahmā was fully informed by Aṅgirā about the entire incident, he severely chastised the moon-god, Soma. Thus Lord Brahmā delivered Tārā to her husband, who could then understand that she was pregnant.

Verse 9

त्यज त्यजाशु दुष्प्रज्ञे मत्क्षेत्रादाहितं परै: । नाहं त्वां भस्मसात् कुर्यां स्त्रियं सान्तानिकेऽसति ॥ ९ ॥

Bṛhaspati said: You foolish woman, your womb, which was meant for me to impregnate, has been impregnated by someone other than me. Immediately deliver your child! Immediately deliver it! Be assured that after the child is delivered, I shall not burn you to ashes. I know that although you are unchaste, you wanted a son. Therefore I shall not punish you.

Verse 10

तत्याज व्रीडिता तारा कुमारं कनकप्रभम् । स्पृहामाङ्गिरसश्चक्रे कुमारे सोम एव च ॥ १० ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: By Bṛhaspati’s order, Tārā, who was very much ashamed, immediately gave birth to the child, who was very beautiful, with a golden bodily hue. Both Bṛhaspati and the moon-god, Soma, desired the beautiful child.

Verse 11

ममायं न तवेत्युच्चैस्तस्मिन् विवदमानयो: । पप्रच्छुऋर्षयो देवा नैवोचे व्रीडिता तु सा ॥ ११ ॥

Fighting again broke out between Bṛhaspati and the moon-god, both of whom claimed, “This is my child, not yours!” All the saints and demigods present asked Tārā whose child the newborn baby actually was, but because she was ashamed she could not immediately answer.

Verse 12

कुमारो मातरं प्राह कुपितोऽलीकलज्जया । किं न वचस्यसद् वृत्ते आत्मावद्यं वदाशु मे ॥ १२ ॥

The child then became very angry and demanded that his mother immediately tell the truth. “You unchaste woman,” he said, “what is the use of your unnecessary shame? Why do you not admit your fault? Immediately tell me about your faulty behavior.”

Verse 13

ब्रह्मा तां रह आहूय समप्राक्षीच्च सान्‍त्वयन् । सोमस्येत्याह शनकै: सोमस्तं तावदग्रहीत् ॥ १३ ॥

Lord Brahmā then brought Tārā to a secluded place, and after pacifying her he asked to whom the child actually belonged. She replied very slowly, “This is the son of Soma, the moon-god.” Then the moon-god immediately took charge of the child.

Verse 14

तस्यात्मयोनिरकृत बुध इत्यभिधां नृप । बुद्ध्या गम्भीरया येन पुत्रेणापोडुराण्मुदम् ॥ १४ ॥

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, when Lord Brahmā saw that the child was deeply intelligent, he gave the child the name Budha. The moon-god, the ruler of the stars, enjoyed great jubilation because of this son.

Verse 15

तत: पुरूरवा जज्ञे इलायां य उदाहृत: । तस्य रूपगुणौदार्यशीलद्रविणविक्रमान् ॥ १५ ॥ श्रुत्वोर्वशीन्द्रभवने गीयमानान् सुरर्षिणा । तदन्तिकमुपेयाय देवी स्मरशरार्दिता ॥ १६ ॥

Thereafter, from Budha, through the womb of Ilā, a son was born named Purūravā, who was described in the beginning of the Ninth Canto. When his beauty, personal qualities, magnanimity, behavior, wealth and power were described by Nārada in the court of Lord Indra, the celestial woman Urvaśī was attracted to him. Pierced by the arrow of Cupid, she thus approached him.

Verse 16

तत: पुरूरवा जज्ञे इलायां य उदाहृत: । तस्य रूपगुणौदार्यशीलद्रविणविक्रमान् ॥ १५ ॥ श्रुत्वोर्वशीन्द्रभवने गीयमानान् सुरर्षिणा । तदन्तिकमुपेयाय देवी स्मरशरार्दिता ॥ १६ ॥

Thereafter, from Budha, through the womb of Ilā, a son was born named Purūravā, who was described in the beginning of the Ninth Canto. When his beauty, personal qualities, magnanimity, behavior, wealth and power were described by Nārada in the court of Lord Indra, the celestial woman Urvaśī was attracted to him. Pierced by the arrow of Cupid, she thus approached him.

Verse 17

मित्रावरुणयो: शापादापन्ना नरलोकताम् । निशम्य पुरुषश्रेष्ठं कन्दर्पमिव रूपिणम् । धृतिं विष्टभ्य ललना उपतस्थे तदन्तिके ॥ १७ ॥ स तां विलोक्य नृपतिर्हर्षेणोत्फुल्ललोचन: । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देवीं हृष्टतनूरुह: ॥ १८ ॥

Having been cursed by Mitra and Varuṇa, the celestial woman Urvaśī had acquired the habits of a human being. Therefore, upon seeing Purūravā, the best of males, whose beauty resembled that of Cupid, she controlled herself and then approached him. When King Purūravā saw Urvaśī, his eyes became jubilant in the ecstasy of joy, and the hairs on his body stood on end. With mild, pleasing words, he spoke to her as follows.

Verse 18

मित्रावरुणयो: शापादापन्ना नरलोकताम् । निशम्य पुरुषश्रेष्ठं कन्दर्पमिव रूपिणम् । धृतिं विष्टभ्य ललना उपतस्थे तदन्तिके ॥ १७ ॥ स तां विलोक्य नृपतिर्हर्षेणोत्फुल्ललोचन: । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देवीं हृष्टतनूरुह: ॥ १८ ॥

Having been cursed by Mitra and Varuṇa, the celestial woman Urvaśī had acquired the habits of a human being. Therefore, upon seeing Purūravā, the best of males, whose beauty resembled that of Cupid, she controlled herself and then approached him. When King Purūravā saw Urvaśī, his eyes became jubilant in the ecstasy of joy, and the hairs on his body stood on end. With mild, pleasing words, he spoke to her as follows.

Verse 19

श्रीराजोवाच स्वागतं ते वरारोहे आस्यतां करवाम किम् । संरमस्व मया साकं रतिर्नौ शाश्वती: समा: ॥ १९ ॥

King Purūravā said: O most beautiful woman, you are welcome. Please sit here and tell me what I can do for you. You may enjoy with me as long as you desire. Let us pass our life happily in a sexual relationship.

Verse 20

उर्वश्युवाच कस्यास्त्वयि न सज्जेत मनो द‍ृष्टिश्च सुन्दर । यदङ्गान्तरमासाद्य च्यवते ह रिरंसया ॥ २० ॥

Urvaśī replied: O most handsome man, who is the woman whose mind and sight would not be attracted by you? If a woman takes shelter of your chest, she cannot refuse to enjoy with you in a sexual relationship.

Verse 21

एतावुरणकौ राजन् न्यासौ रक्षस्व मानद । संरंस्ये भवता साकं श्लाघ्य: स्त्रीणां वर: स्मृत: ॥ २१ ॥

My dear King Purūravā, please give protection to these two lambs, who have fallen down with me. Although I belong to the heavenly planets and you belong to earth, I shall certainly enjoy sexual union with you. I have no objection to accepting you as my husband, for you are superior in every respect.

Verse 22

घृतं मे वीर भक्ष्यं स्यान्नेक्षे त्वान्यत्र मैथुनात् । विवाससं तत् तथेति प्रतिपेदे महामना: ॥ २२ ॥

Urvaśī said: “My dear hero, only preparations made in ghee [clarified butter] will be my eatables, and I shall not want to see you naked at any time, except at the time of sexual intercourse.” The great-minded King Purūravā accepted these proposals.

Verse 23

अहो रूपमहो भावो नरलोकविमोहनम् । को न सेवेत मनुजो देवीं त्वां स्वयमागताम् ॥ २३ ॥

Purūravā replied: O beautiful one, your beauty is wonderful and your gestures are also wonderful. Indeed, you are attractive to all human society. Therefore, since you have come of your own accord from the heavenly planets, who on earth would not agree to serve a demigoddess such as you.

Verse 24

तया स पुरुषश्रेष्ठो रमयन्त्या यथार्हत: । रेमे सुरविहारेषु कामं चैत्ररथादिषु ॥ २४ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: The best of human beings, Purūravā, began freely enjoying the company of Urvaśī, who engaged in sexual activities with him in many celestial places, such as Caitraratha and Nandana-kānana, where the demigods enjoy.

Verse 25

रममाणस्तया देव्या पद्मकिञ्जल्कगन्धया । तन्मुखामोदमुषितो मुमुदेऽहर्गणान् बहून् ॥ २५ ॥

Urvaśī’s body was as fragrant as the saffron of a lotus. Being enlivened by the fragrance of her face and body, Purūravā enjoyed her company for many days with great jubilation.

Verse 26

अपश्यन्नुर्वशीमिन्द्रो गन्धर्वान् समचोदयत् । उर्वशीरहितं मह्यमास्थानं नातिशोभते ॥ २६ ॥

Not seeing Urvaśī in his assembly, the King of heaven, Lord Indra, said, “Without Urvaśī my assembly is no longer beautiful.” Considering this, he requested the Gandharvas to bring her back to his heavenly planet.

Verse 27

ते उपेत्य महारात्रे तमसि प्रत्युपस्थिते । उर्वश्या उरणौ जह्रुर्न्यस्तौ राजनि जायया ॥ २७ ॥

Thus the Gandharvas came to earth, and at midnight, when everything was dark, they appeared in the house of Purūravā and stole the two lambs entrusted to the King by his wife, Urvaśī.

Verse 28

निशम्याक्रन्दितं देवी पुत्रयोर्नीयमानयो: । हतास्म्यहं कुनाथेन नपुंसा वीरमानिना ॥ २८ ॥

Urvaśī treated the two lambs like her own sons. Therefore, when they were being taken by the Gandharvas and began crying, Urvaśī heard them and rebuked her husband. “Now I am being killed,” she said, “under the protection of an unworthy husband, who is a coward and a eunuch although he thinks himself a great hero.”

Verse 29

यद्विश्रम्भादहं नष्टा हृतापत्या च दस्युभि: । य: शेते निशि सन्त्रस्तो यथा नारी दिवा पुमान् ॥ २९ ॥

“Because I depended on him, the plunderers have deprived me of my two sons the lambs, and therefore I am now lost. My husband lies down at night in fear, exactly like a woman, although he appears to be a man during the day.”

Verse 30

इति वाक्सायकैर्बिद्ध: प्रतोत्त्रैरिव कुञ्जर: । निशि निस्त्रिंशमादाय विवस्त्रोऽभ्यद्रवद् रुषा ॥ ३० ॥

Purūravā, stricken by the sharp words of Urvaśī like an elephant struck by its driver’s pointed rod, became very angry. Not even dressing himself properly, he took a sword in hand and went out naked into the night to follow the Gandharvas who had stolen the lambs.

Verse 31

ते विसृज्योरणौ तत्र व्यद्योतन्त स्म विद्युत: । आदाय मेषावायान्तं नग्नमैक्षत सा पतिम् ॥ ३१ ॥

After giving up the two lambs, the Gandharvas shone brightly like lightning, thus illuminating the house of Purūravā. Urvaśī then saw her husband returning with the lambs in hand, but he was naked, and therefore she left.

Verse 32

ऐलोऽपि शयने जायामपश्यन् विमना इव । तच्चित्तो विह्वल: शोचन् बभ्रामोन्मत्तवन्महीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

No longer seeing Urvaśī on his bed, Purūravā was most aggrieved. Because of his great attraction for her, he was very much disturbed. Thus, lamenting, he began traveling about the earth like a madman.

Verse 33

स तां वीक्ष्य कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वत्यां च तत्सखी: । पञ्च प्रहृष्टवदन: प्राह सूक्तं पुरूरवा: ॥ ३३ ॥

Once during his travels all over the world, Purūravā saw Urvaśī, accompanied by five companions, on the bank of the Sarasvatī at Kurukṣetra. With jubilation in his face, he then spoke to her in sweet words as follows.

Verse 34

अहो जाये तिष्ठ तिष्ठ घोरे न त्यक्तुमर्हसि । मां त्वमद्याप्यनिर्वृत्य वचांसि कृणवावहै ॥ ३४ ॥

O my dear wife, O most cruel one, kindly stay, kindly stay. I know that I have never made you happy until now, but you should not give me up for that reason. This is not proper for you. Even if you have decided to give up my company, let us nonetheless talk for some time.

Verse 35

सुदेहोऽयं पतत्यत्र देवि दूरं हृतस्त्वया । खादन्त्येनं वृका गृध्रास्त्वत्प्रसादस्य नास्पदम् ॥ ३५ ॥

O goddess, now that you have refused me, my beautiful body will fall down here, and because it is unsuitable for your pleasure, it will be eaten by foxes and vultures.

Verse 36

उर्वश्युवाच मा मृथा: पुरुषोऽसि त्वं मा स्म त्वाद्युर्वृका इमे । क्‍वापि सख्यं न वै स्त्रीणां वृकाणां हृदयं यथा ॥ ३६ ॥

Urvaśī said: My dear King, you are a man, a hero. Don’t be impatient and give up your life. Be sober and don’t allow the senses to overcome you like foxes. Don’t let the foxes eat you. In other words, you should not be controlled by your senses. Rather, you should know that the heart of a woman is like that of a fox. There is no use making friendship with women.

Verse 37

स्त्रियो ह्यकरुणा: क्रूरा दुर्मर्षा: प्रियसाहसा: । घ्नन्त्यल्पार्थेऽपि विश्रब्धं पतिं भ्रातरमप्युत ॥ ३७ ॥

Women as a class are merciless and cunning. They cannot tolerate even a slight offense. For their own pleasure they can do anything irreligious, and therefore they do not fear killing even a faithful husband or brother.

Verse 38

विधायालीकविश्रम्भमज्ञेषु त्यक्तसौहृदा: । नवं नवमभीप्सन्त्य: पुंश्चल्य: स्वैरवृत्तय: ॥ ३८ ॥

Women are very easily seduced by men. Therefore, polluted women give up the friendship of a man who is their well-wisher and establish false friendship among fools. Indeed, they seek newer and newer friends, one after another.

Verse 39

संवत्सरान्ते हि भवानेकरात्रं मयेश्वर: । रंस्यत्यपत्यानि च ते भविष्यन्त्यपराणि भो: ॥ ३९ ॥

O my dear King, you will be able to enjoy with me as my husband at the end of every year, for one night only. In this way you will have other children, one after another.

Verse 40

अन्तर्वत्नीमुपालक्ष्य देवीं स प्रययौ पुरीम् । पुनस्तत्र गतोऽब्दान्ते उर्वशीं वीरमातरम् ॥ ४० ॥

Understanding that Urvaśī was pregnant, Purūravā returned to his palace. At the end of the year, there at Kurukṣetra, he again obtained the association of Urvaśī, who was then the mother of a heroic son.

Verse 41

उपलभ्य मुदा युक्त: समुवास तया निशाम् । अथैनमुर्वशी प्राह कृपणं विरहातुरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Having regained Urvaśī at the end of the year, King Purūravā was most jubilant, and he enjoyed her company in sex for one night. But then he was very sorry at the thought of separation from her, so Urvaśī spoke to him as follows.

Verse 42

गन्धर्वानुपधावेमांस्तुभ्यं दास्यन्ति मामिति । तस्य संस्तुवतस्तुष्टा अग्निस्थालीं ददुर्नृप । उर्वशीं मन्यमानस्तां सोऽबुध्यत चरन् वने ॥ ४२ ॥

Urvaśī said: “My dear King, seek shelter of the Gandharvas, for they will be able to deliver me to you again.” In accordance with these words, the King satisfied the Gandharvas by prayers, and the Gandharvas, being pleased with him, gave him an Agnisthālī girl who looked exactly like Urvaśī. Thinking that the girl was Urvaśī, the King began walking with her in the forest, but later he could understand that she was not Urvaśī but Agnisthālī.

Verse 43

स्थालीं न्यस्य वने गत्वा गृहानाध्यायतो निशि । त्रेतायां सम्प्रवृत्तायां मनसि त्रय्यवर्तत ॥ ४३ ॥

King Purūravā then left Agnisthālī in the forest and returned home, where he meditated all night upon Urvaśī. In the course of his meditation, the Tretā millennium began, and therefore the principles of the three Vedas, including the process of performing yajña to fulfill fruitive activities, appeared within his heart.

Verse 44

स्थालीस्थानं गतोऽश्वत्थं शमीगर्भं विलक्ष्य स: । तेन द्वे अरणी कृत्वा उर्वशीलोककाम्यया ॥ ४४ ॥ उर्वशीं मन्त्रतो ध्यायन्नधरारणिमुत्तराम् । आत्मानमुभयोर्मध्ये यत् तत् प्रजननं प्रभु: ॥ ४५ ॥

When the process of fruitive yajña became manifest within his heart, King Purūravā went to the same spot where he had left Agnisthālī. There he saw that from the womb of a śamī tree, an aśvattha tree had grown. He then took a piece of wood from that tree and made it into two araṇis. Desiring to go to the planet where Urvaśī resided, he chanted mantras, meditating upon the lower araṇi as Urvaśī, the upper one as himself, and the piece of wood between them as his son. In this way he began to ignite a fire.

Verse 45

स्थालीस्थानं गतोऽश्वत्थं शमीगर्भं विलक्ष्य स: । तेन द्वे अरणी कृत्वा उर्वशीलोककाम्यया ॥ ४४ ॥ उर्वशीं मन्त्रतो ध्यायन्नधरारणिमुत्तराम् । आत्मानमुभयोर्मध्ये यत् तत् प्रजननं प्रभु: ॥ ४५ ॥

When the process of fruitive yajña became manifest within his heart, King Purūravā went to the same spot where he had left Agnisthālī. There he saw that from the womb of a śamī tree, an aśvattha tree had grown. He then took a piece of wood from that tree and made it into two araṇis. Desiring to go to the planet where Urvaśī resided, he chanted mantras, meditating upon the lower araṇi as Urvaśī, the upper one as himself, and the piece of wood between them as his son. In this way he began to ignite a fire.

Verse 46

तस्य निर्मन्थनाज्जातो जातवेदा विभावसु: । त्रय्या स विद्यया राज्ञा पुत्रत्वे कल्पितस्त्रिवृत् ॥ ४६ ॥

From Purūravā’s rubbing of the araṇis came a fire. By such a fire one can achieve all success in material enjoyment and be purified in seminal birth, initiation and in the performance of sacrifice, which are invoked with the combined letters a-u-m. Thus the fire was considered the son of King Purūravā.

Verse 47

तेनायजत यज्ञेशं भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । उर्वशीलोकमन् विच्छन्सर्वदेवमयं हरिम् ॥ ४७ ॥

By means of that fire, Purūravā, who desired to go to the planet where Urvaśī resided, performed a sacrifice, by which he satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the enjoyer of the results of sacrifice. Thus he worshiped the Lord, who is beyond the perception of the senses and is the reservoir of all the demigods.

Verse 48

एक एव पुरा वेद: प्रणव: सर्ववाङ्‌मय: । देवो नारायणो नान्य एकोऽग्निर्वर्ण एव च ॥ ४८ ॥

In the Satya-yuga, the first millennium, all the Vedic mantras were included in one mantra — praṇava, the root of all Vedic mantras. In other words, the Atharva Veda alone was the source of all Vedic knowledge. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa was the only worshipable Deity; there was no recommendation for worship of the demigods. Fire was one only, and the only order of life in human society was known as haṁsa.

Verse 49

पुरूरवस एवासीत् त्रयी त्रेतामुखे नृप । अग्निना प्रजया राजा लोकं गान्धर्वमेयिवान् ॥ ४९ ॥

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, King Purūravā inaugurated a karma-kāṇḍa sacrifice. Thus Purūravā, who considered the yajñic fire his son, was able to go to Gandharvaloka as he desired.