Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

tataḥ purūravā jajñe ilāyāṁ ya udāhṛtaḥ tasya rūpa-guṇaudārya- śīla-draviṇa-vikramān

Translation

ତାପରେ ଇଳାଙ୍କ ଗର୍ଭରେ ବୁଧଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପୁରୂରବା ନାମକ ପୁତ୍ର ଜନ୍ମିଲେ; ତାଙ୍କ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ନବମ ସ୍କନ୍ଧର ଆରମ୍ଭରେ ଅଛି। ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରସଭାରେ ନାରଦ ତାଙ୍କ ରୂପ, ଗୁଣ, ଔଦାର୍ୟ, ଶୀଳ, ଧନ ଓ ପରାକ୍ରମ ଗାଇ କହିବାକୁ ଶୁଣି, କାମଦେବର ଶରରେ ବିଦ୍ଧ ଉର୍ବଶୀ ଆକର୍ଷିତ ହୋଇ ତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆସିଲେ।

Synonyms

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपपद/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'thereafter/then'

• purūravāḥ: Purūravas
• purūravāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purūravas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• jajñe: was born
• jajñe: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; अर्थ: 'was born/was produced'

• ilāyām: in Ilā
• ilāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (sg.)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• udāhṛtaḥ: is called/mentioned
• udāhṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate to yaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'is called/has been mentioned'

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• rūpa-guṇa-audārya-śīla-draviṇa-vikramān: (his) form, qualities, generosity, character, wealth, and prowess
• rūpa-guṇa-audārya-śīla-draviṇa-vikramān: Karma (कर्म/object of 'hearing' implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + audārya (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + draviṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (compound) बहुपद-द्वन्द्व (copulative listing); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (pl.)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त), 'having heard'

• urvaśī: Urvaśī
• urvaśī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: urvaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• indra-bhavane: in Indra’s abode
• indra-bhavane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'Indra's palace'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc.), एकवचन

• gīyamānān: being sung (about)
• gīyamānān: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: कृदन्त (present passive participle, शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), बहुवचन; अर्थ: 'being sung'

• sura-ṛṣiṇā: by the divine sage
• sura-ṛṣiṇā: Karana (करण/instrument/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'divine sage'; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• tad-antikam: to his vicinity
• tad-antikam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'his vicinity/near him'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• upayāya: approached
• upayāya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; अर्थ: 'went/approached'

• devī: the goddess (celestial lady)
• devī: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to urvaśī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• smara-śara-arditā: afflicted by Cupid’s arrows
• smara-śara-arditā: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक) + śara (प्रातिपदिक) + ardita (प्रातिपदिक from √ard)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'struck/afflicted by Cupid's arrows'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) to devī/urvaśī

Characters & Entities

• Purūravas
• Ilā
• Urvaśī
• Indra
• Suraṛṣi (celestial sage)
• Smara (Kāmadeva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the beginning of Purūravas and Urvaśī’s connection?

It begins with Purūravas’ renowned qualities being sung in Indra’s assembly; hearing this, Urvaśī becomes love-struck by Cupid and approaches him.

Why does Urvaśī go to Purūravas in this verse?

Because she hears his glories—beauty, virtues, wealth, and valor—being praised by a celestial sage, and she is overwhelmed by desire (smara-śara).

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Fame and attractive qualities can intensify desire and attachment; the verse invites vigilance over the mind and senses, redirecting attraction toward higher, devotional aims.