सामदानादयः सर्वे वशगास्तस्य भूपतेः । वर्णाश्रमान्स्वधर्मस्थान्कुर्वन् राज्यं शशास ह
All means such as conciliation and gifts were under his control; he governed the kingdom by establishing the varnas and ashramas in their proper duties.
यज्ञांश्च विविधांश्चक्रे स राजा बहुदक्षिणान् । दानानि च पवित्राणि ददावथ नराधिपः
That king performed many kinds of sacrifices, giving abundant gifts, and bestowed pure charities.
तस्य रूपगुणौदार्यशीलद्रविणविक्रमान् । श्रुत्वोर्वशी वशीभूता चकमे तं नराधिपम्
Hearing of his beauty, virtues, generosity, character, wealth, and valor, Urvashi became captivated and desired that king.
ब्रह्मशापाभितप्ता सा मानुषं लोकमास्थिता । गुणिनं तं नृपं मत्वा वरयामास मानिनी
Afflicted by Brahma's curse, she entered the human world; considering that virtuous king, the proud one chose him as her husband.
समयं चेदृशं कृत्वा स्थिता तत्र वराङ्गना । एतावुरणकौ राजन्न्यस्तौ रक्षस्व मानद
Having made this agreement, the excellent woman stayed there: 'O king, you must protect these two lambs of mine, O bestower of honor.'
घृतं मे भक्षणं नित्यं नान्यत्किञ्चिन्नृपाशनम् । नेक्षे त्वां च महाराज नग्नमन्यत्र मैथुनात्
'My food shall always be clarified butter, nothing else is to be my meal; and, O great king, you must not see me naked except during union.'
भाषाबन्धस्त्वयं राजन् यदि भग्नो भविष्यति । तदा त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्
'O king, if this agreement is broken, then I will leave you and depart; this I truly declare.'
अङ्गीकृतं च तद्राज्ञा कामिन्या भाषितं तु यत् । स्थिता भाषणबन्धेन शापानुगहकाम्यया
The king accepted what the desiring woman had said; she remained bound by the agreement, wishing to fulfill the effect of the curse.
रेमे तदा स भूपालो लीनो वर्षगणान्बहून् । धर्मकर्मादिकं त्यक्त्वा चोर्वश्या मदमोहितः
Then that king, absorbed in Urvashi, spent many years in pleasure, abandoning dharma and other duties, deluded by passion.
एकचित्तस्तु सञ्जातस्तन्मनस्को महीपतिः । न शशाक तया हीनः क्षणमप्यतिमोहितः
His mind became fixed on her alone, the king's thoughts absorbed in her; deprived of her, he could not endure even a moment, being utterly infatuated.
एवं वर्षगणान्ते तु स्वर्गस्थः पाकशासनः । उर्वशीं नागतां दृष्ट्वा गन्धर्वानाह देवराट्
Thus, at the end of many years, Indra, dwelling in heaven, saw that Urvashi had not returned, and addressed the Gandharvas.
उर्वशीमानयध्वं भो गन्धर्वाः सर्व एव हि । हृत्वोरणौ गृहात्तस्य भूपतेः समये किल
O Gandharvas, all of you, bring Urvashi here! She was taken from the king’s house at the appointed time.
उर्वशीरहितं स्थानं मदीयं नातिशोभते । येन केनाप्युपायेन तामानयत कामिनीम्
My abode does not shine without Urvashi; by any means, bring back that desirous one.
इत्युक्तास्तेऽथ गन्धर्वा विश्वावसुपुरोगमाः । ततो गत्वा महागाढे तमसि प्रत्युपस्थिते
Thus addressed, the Gandharvas, led by Vishvavasu, went forth and, when deep darkness had come, arrived there.
जह्रुस्तावुरणौ देवा रममाणं विलोक्य तम् । चक्रन्दतुस्तदा तौ तु ह्रियमाणौ विहायसा
Seeing the two gods enjoying themselves in the forest, they seized them; at that moment, the two cried out as they were carried away through the sky.
उर्वशी तदुपाकर्ण्य क्रन्दितं सुतयोरिव । कुपितोवाच राजानं समयोऽयं कृतो मया
Hearing the cries, like those of her own children, Urvashi became angry and spoke to the king: 'This agreement was made by me.'
नष्टाहं तव विश्वासाद्धृतौ चोरैर्ममोरणौ । राजन्पुत्रसमावेतौ त्वं किं शेषे स्त्रिया समः
'I am lost to you, having trusted you, for thieves have taken my children from the forest. O king, you remain united with a woman while your sons are gone.'
हतास्म्यहं कुनाथेन नपुंसा वीरमानिना । उरणौ मे गतौ चाद्य सदा प्राणप्रियौ मम
'I am destroyed by this ignoble, impotent one who boasts of valor; today my two beloved sons have been taken from the forest.'
एवं विलप्यमानां तां दृष्ट्वा राजा विमोहितः । नग्न एव ययौ तूर्णं पृष्ठतः पृथिवीपतिः
Seeing her lamenting thus, the king became bewildered; naked, he hurried after her.
विद्युत्प्रकाशिता तत्र गन्धर्वैर्नृपवेश्मनि । नग्नभूतस्तया दृष्टो भूपतिर्गन्तुकामया
There, in the king’s palace, illuminated by flashes of lightning by the Gandharvas, the king was seen naked by her, who wished to depart.
त्यक्त्वोरणौ गताः सर्वे गन्धर्वाः पथि पार्थिवः । नग्नो जग्राह तौ श्रान्तो जगाम स्वगृहं प्रति
Having left the forest, all the Gandharvas departed; the king, exhausted and naked, seized the two and went towards his own house.
तदोर्वशीं गतां दृष्ट्वा विललापातिदुःखितः । नग्नं वीक्ष्य पतिं नारी गता सा वरवर्णिनी
Seeing Urvashi gone, he lamented in great sorrow; the noble lady, seeing her husband naked, departed.
क्रन्दन्स देशदेशेषु बभ्राम नृपतिः स्वयम् । तच्चित्तो विह्वलः शोचन्विवशः काममोहितः
The king himself wandered from place to place, crying out, his mind disturbed, grieving, helpless, and overwhelmed by desire.
भ्रमन्वै सकलां पृथ्वीं कुरुक्षेत्रे ददर्श ताम् । दृष्ट्वा संहृष्टवदनः प्राह सूक्तं नृपोत्तमः
Wandering over the whole earth, he saw her at Kurukshetra; seeing her, the best of kings, with a joyful face, spoke these words.
अये जाये तिष्ठ तिष्ठ घोरे न त्यक्तुमर्हसि । मां त्वं त्वन्मनसं कान्तं वशगं चाप्यनागसम्
'Ah, wife, stay, stay! In this terrible place, you should not abandon me, your beloved, who is devoted to you and innocent.'
स देहोऽयं पतत्यत्र देवि दूरं हृतस्त्वया । खादन्त्येनं वृकाः काकास्त्वया त्यक्तं वरोरु यत्
'This body will fall here, O goddess, taken far away by you; wolves and crows will devour it, since you, O fair one, have abandoned it.'
एवं विलपमानं तं राजानं प्राह चोर्वशी । दुःखितं कृपणं श्रान्तं कामार्तं विवशं भृशम्
As he lamented thus, Urvashi spoke to the king, who was miserable, pitiable, exhausted, tormented by desire, and utterly helpless.
उर्वश्युवाच मूर्खोऽसि नृपशार्दूल ज्ञानं कुत्र गतं तव । क्वापि सख्यं न च स्त्रीणां वृकाणामिव पार्थिव
Urvashi said: 'You are a fool, O tiger among kings! Where has your wisdom gone? There is no true friendship with women, O king, just as with wolves.'
न विश्वासो हि कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु चौरेषु पार्थिवैः । गृहं गच्छ सुखं भुंक्ष्व मा विषादे मनः कृथाः
One should not place trust in women, thieves, or kings. Go home, enjoy yourself in comfort, and do not let your mind fall into despair.
इत्येवं बोधितो राजा न विवेदातिमोहितः । दुःखं च परमं प्राप्तः स्वैरिणीस्नेहयन्त्रितः
Thus instructed, the king, utterly deluded, did not understand; bound by the affection of a wanton woman, he fell into the greatest sorrow.