Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 42
The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga
गन्धर्वानुपधावेमांस्तुभ्यं दास्यन्ति मामिति । तस्य संस्तुवतस्तुष्टा अग्निस्थालीं ददुर्नृप । उर्वशीं मन्यमानस्तां सोऽबुध्यत चरन् वने ॥ ४२ ॥
gandharvān upadhāvemāṁs tubhyaṁ dāsyanti mām iti tasya saṁstuvatas tuṣṭā agni-sthālīṁ dadur nṛpa urvaśīṁ manyamānas tāṁ so ’budhyata caran vane
乌尔瓦希说：“大王，当投依乾闼婆；他们能再把我交还给你。”国王依言以祈祷赞颂使乾闼婆欢喜；乾闼婆满意后赐他一位名为阿耆尼斯塔丽、容貌酷似乌尔瓦希的少女。国王误以为她就是乌尔瓦希，便与她同行于林中，后来才明白她并非乌尔瓦希，而是阿耆尼斯塔丽。
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Purūravā was very lusty. Immediately after getting the Agnisthālī girl, he wanted to have sex with her, but during sexual intercourse he could understand that the girl was Agnisthālī, not Urvaśī. This indicates that every man attached to a particular woman knows the particular characteristics of that woman during sex life. Thus Purūravā understood during sexual intercourse that the Agnisthālī girl was not Urvaśī.
FAQs
The Gandharvas, pleased by Purūravā’s prayers, give him an agni-sthālī (fire-pot), but he becomes so attached and deluded that he mistakes it for Urvaśī while wandering in the forest.
In this episode, the Gandharvas respond to his praise by granting a ritual means (sacred fire) rather than fulfilling his emotional fixation—redirecting him toward dharma and regulated life instead of uncontrolled longing.
Strong attachment can distort perception; the verse warns that obsession makes us project our desires onto objects and situations, so spiritual discipline and clarity are needed to see reality as it is.