Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 17
The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga
मित्रावरुणयो: शापादापन्ना नरलोकताम् । निशम्य पुरुषश्रेष्ठं कन्दर्पमिव रूपिणम् । धृतिं विष्टभ्य ललना उपतस्थे तदन्तिके ॥ १७ ॥ स तां विलोक्य नृपतिर्हर्षेणोत्फुल्ललोचन: । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देवीं हृष्टतनूरुह: ॥ १८ ॥
mitrā-varuṇayoḥ śāpād āpannā nara-lokatām niśamya puruṣa-śreṣṭhaṁ kandarpam iva rūpiṇam
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.
FAQs
This verse notes that due to Mitra and Varuṇa’s curse, Urvaśī came down to the human realm, showing how even celestial beings can be bound by higher divine law and consequence.
Hearing of Purūravā’s exceptional qualities and captivating beauty, Urvaśī gathered her composure and went to him, setting in motion their well-known episode in the narrative.
Attraction can be powerful, but the verse highlights the need to steady one’s mind (dhṛti) before acting—encouraging self-control and thoughtful choices rather than impulse.