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.
सूत उवाच इति सर्वं समाख्यातमुर्वशीचरितं महत् । वेदे विस्तरितं चैतत्संक्षेपात्कथितं मया
Sūta said: Thus the entire great story of Urvaśī has been recounted; this, which is elaborated in the Vedas, I have told you in brief.
व्यासेन गृहस्थधर्मवर्णनम् सूत उवाच दृष्ट्वा तामसितापाङ्गीं व्यासश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् । किं करोमि न मे योग्या देवकन्येयमप्सराः
Sūta said: Seeing her with dark, intoxicated eyes, Vyāsa became absorbed in thought: 'What should I do? This divine maiden, this apsaras, is not suitable for me.'
एवं चिन्तयमानं तु दृष्ट्वा व्यासं तदाप्सराः । भयभीता हि सञ्जाता शापं मा विसृजेदयम्
As Vyāsa was thinking thus, the apsaras, seeing him, became filled with fear, anxious that he might utter a curse.
सा कृत्वाथ शुकीरूपं निर्गता भयविह्वला । कृष्णस्तु विस्मयं प्राप्तो विहङ्गीं तां विलोकयन्
Then, taking the form of a female parrot, she departed, trembling with fear; Kṛṣṇa was astonished upon seeing her in the form of a bird.
कामस्तु देहे व्यासस्य दर्शनादेव सङ्गतः । मनोऽतिविस्मितं जातं सर्वगात्रेषु विस्मितः
Desire arose in Vyāsa's body merely from seeing her; his mind became exceedingly astonished, and he was amazed in every limb.
स तु धैर्येण महता निगह्णन्मानसं मुनिः । न शशाक नियन्तुं च स व्यासः प्रसृतं मनः
But the sage, with great self-control, restrained his mind; yet Vyāsa could not subdue his mind, which had become unrestrained.
बहुशो गृह्यमाणं च घृताच्या मोहितं मनः । भावित्वान्नैव विधृतं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः
Though he tried repeatedly to control his mind, which was deluded by Ghṛtācī, due to destiny, Vyāsa of boundless energy could not hold it back.
मन्धनं कुर्वतस्तस्य मुनेरग्निचिकीर्षया । अरण्यामेव सहसा तस्य शुक्रमथापतत्
While the sage was producing fire by friction, wishing to kindle a sacred fire, his semen suddenly fell there in the forest.
सोऽविचिन्त्य तथा पातं ममन्थारणिमेव च । तस्माच्छुकः समुद्भूतो व्यासाकृतिमनोहरः
Without thinking about that emission, he continued to churn the fire-sticks; from that, a son named Śuka was born, possessing Vyāsa's captivating form.
विस्मयं जनयन्बालः सञ्जातस्तदरण्यजः । यथाध्वरे समिद्धोऽग्निर्भाति हव्येन दीप्तिमान्
A child was born from the fire-sticks, causing wonder, just as a blazing fire shines brightly at a sacrifice when fed with offerings.