Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 24

The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

tayā sa puruṣa-śreṣṭho ramayantyā yathārhataḥ reme sura-vihāreṣu kāmaṁ caitrarathādiṣu

Translation

શુકદેવ ગોસ્વામીએ કહ્યું—ઉર્વશી તેને યથાર્થ રીતે રમણ કરાવતી હતી; તેથી પુરુષોમાં શ્રેષ્ઠ પુરૂરવાએ દેવતાઓના વિહારસ્થાનોમાં—ચૈત્રરથ, નંદન-કાનન વગેરેમાં—પોતાની ઇચ્છા મુજબ તેની સાથે મુક્તપણે આનંદ કર્યો।

Synonyms

• tayā: by/with her
• tayā: Karaṇa/Saha (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of reme
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣa-śreṣṭhaḥ: the best of men
• puruṣa-śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) in apposition to saḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) / ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: 'best among men'; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ramayantyā: by her who was pleasing (him)
• ramayantyā: Karaṇa/Saha (करण/सह)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ramayantī (कृदन्त; causative present participle) from ram (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/Śatṛ) of causative (णिच्) ramay-; Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with tayā (she who was causing delight)

• yathā-arhataḥ: as was fitting
• yathā-arhataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + arhatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: yathā (avyaya, 'as') + arhataḥ (Genitive singular used adverbially: 'as is proper'); together functioning adverbially

• reme: he enjoyed/sported
• reme: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथम/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada

• sura-vihāreṣu: in the gods’ pleasure-gardens
• sura-vihāreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): sura-vihāra 'divine pleasure-groves'; Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kāmam: at will
• kāmam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग): 'at will/as desired'

• caitraratha-ādiṣu: in Caitraratha and other (groves)
• caitraratha-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitraratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): 'Caitraratha and others'; Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Purūravā
• Urvaśī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about heavenly enjoyment (svarga-bhoga) and desire?

This verse describes Purūravā enjoying with Urvaśī in divine pleasure-gardens according to desire, illustrating how even refined, celestial enjoyment remains centered on kāma (personal desire) and thus does not constitute spiritual fulfillment.

Why is Purūravā shown sporting with Urvaśī in celestial gardens like Caitraratha?

Śukadeva presents this to show the height of worldly and heavenly pleasure available to a king favored by fortune—setting the stage for the Bhagavatam’s broader lesson that attachment to enjoyment still binds the heart.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for modern life?

Even the most luxurious experiences can intensify desire; a devotee learns to enjoy what is appropriate without letting pleasure become the goal, and redirects the heart toward lasting satisfaction through bhakti.