Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 22
The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga
घृतं मे वीर भक्ष्यं स्यान्नेक्षे त्वान्यत्र मैथुनात् । विवाससं तत् तथेति प्रतिपेदे महामना: ॥ २२ ॥
ghṛtaṁ me vīra bhakṣyaṁ syān nekṣe tvānyatra maithunāt vivāsasaṁ tat tatheti pratipede mahāmanāḥ
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.
FAQs
It describes Urvashi placing strict conditions—her food would be ghee, and she would not look at Pururava except during union—and the king agreeing to those terms.
Within the narrative, the conditions emphasize the unusual, fragile nature of their association and foreshadow how desire-based attachment binds the mind and leads to suffering when conditions are broken.
It highlights how relationships built primarily on sensual attraction and rigid conditions can create anxiety and dependence; Bhagavatam encourages moving toward self-control, clarity, and devotion-centered living.