Vayu Purana

ईषिकास्तम्बमासाद्य ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्। जातमात्रोऽथ भगवान् देवानामाक्षिपद्वपुः ।। २८.

Coming to a reed stalk, blazing like fire, the blessed one, as soon as he was born, assumed a form that astonished the gods.

ततः संशयमापन्नास्तारामकथयन् सुराः। सत्यं ब्रूहि सुतः कस्य सोमस्याथ बृहस्पतेः ।। २८.

Then, the gods, filled with doubt, questioned Tārā: 'Speak the truth—whose son is this, Soma's or Bṛhaspati's?'

ह्रीयमाणा यदा देवान्नाह सा साध्वसाधु वा । तदा तां शप्तुमारब्धः कुमारो दस्युहन्तमः ।। २८.

Ashamed before the gods, she did not say whether it was proper or improper; then the son, destroyer of enemies, began to curse her.

सन्निवार्य तदा ब्रह्मा तारां चन्द्रस्य संशयः। यदत्र तथ्यन्तद्‌ब्रूहि तारे कस्य सुतस्त्वयम् ।। २८.

Then Brahmā restrained him and said to Tārā, 'O Tārā, tell the truth—whose son is this of yours, Soma's or not?'

सा प्राञ्जलिरुवाचेदं ब्रह्माणं वरदं प्रभुम्। सोमस्येति महात्मानं कुमारन्दस्युहन्तमम् ।। २८.

With joined palms, she spoke to Brahmā, the gracious lord: 'He is the son of Soma, the great-souled one, the destroyer of enemies.'

ततः स तमुपाघाय सोमो दाता प्रजापतिः। बुध इत्यकरोन्नाम तस्य पुत्रस्य धीमतः ।। २८.

Then Soma, the giver and lord of creatures, embraced him; he gave his wise son the name Budha.

प्रतिपूर्व्वञ्च गमने समभ्युत्तिष्ठते बुधैः। उत्पादयामास तदा पुत्रं वै राजपुत्रिका ।। २८.

In the course of their union, Budha was approached by the royal maiden, who then bore him a son.

तस्य पुत्रो महातेजा बभूवैलः पुरूरवाः । उर्वश्यां जज्ञिरे तस्य पुत्राः षट् सुमहौजसः ।। २८.

His son, Pururavas, possessed great brilliance; from Urvashi, he begot six sons of immense strength.

प्रसह्य धर्षितस्तत्र विवशो राजयक्ष्मणा । ततो यक्ष्माभिभूतस्तु सोमः प्रक्षीणमण्डलः । जगाम शरणायाथ पितरं सोऽत्रिमेव तु ।। २८.

There, forcibly violated and afflicted by royal disease, Soma, his circle diminished by illness, sought refuge with his father, Atri.

तस्य तत्पापशमनं चकारात्रिर्महायशाः। स राजयक्ष्मणा मुक्तः श्रिया जज्वाल सर्व्वशः ।। २८.

The illustrious Atri performed the expiation for his sin; freed from royal disease, Soma shone forth in all his glory.

एतत्सोमस्य वै जन्म कीर्त्तितं द्विजसत्तमाः। वंशन्तस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कीर्त्यमानं निबोधत ।। २८.

This account of Soma's birth has been narrated, O best of twice-born; now listen as his lineage is proclaimed, O foremost of Brahmins.

धन्यमारोग्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं कल्मषशोधनम्। सोमस्य जन्म श्रुत्वैव सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। २८.

Blessed, healthy, long-lived, virtuous, and purifying of sin—by hearing the birth of Soma, one is freed from all evils.

सूत उवाच ।। सोमस्य तु बुधः पुत्रो बुधस्य तु पुरूरवाः। तेजस्वी दानशीलश्च यज्वा विपुलदक्षिणः ।। २९.

Suta said: Budha was the son of Soma, and Pururavas was Budha's son; he was radiant, generous, a sacrificer, and gave abundant gifts.

ब्रह्मवादी पराक्रान्तः शत्रुभिर्युधि दुर्जयः। आहर्त्ता चाग्निहोत्रस्य यज्वनाञ्च ददौ महीम् ।। २९.

He was learned in Brahman, courageous, invincible in battle against enemies, and he performed Agnihotra and gave land to sacrificers.

सत्यवाक् कर्म्मबुद्धिश्च कान्तः संवृतमैथुनः। अतीव पुत्रो लोकेषु रूपेणाप्रतिमोऽभवत् ।। २९.

Truthful in speech, wise in action, charming, and restrained in union; his son was unmatched in beauty among men.

तं ब्रह्मवादिनं दान्तं धर्मज्ञं सत्यवादिनम्। उर्वशी वरयामास हित्वा मानं यशस्विनी ।। २९.

Urvashi, renowned and glorious, chose him—learned in Brahman, self-controlled, righteous, and truthful—setting aside her pride.

तया सहावसद्राजा दशवर्षाणि चाष्ट च। सप्त षट् सप्त चाष्टौ च दश चाष्टौ च वीर्यवान् ।। २९.

With her, the king lived for ten and eight years, seven, six, seven, eight, ten, and eight, endowed with vigor.

वने चैत्ररथे रम्ये तथा मन्दाकिनीतटे। अलकायां विशालायां नन्दने च वनोत्तमे ।। २९.

In the delightful Caitraratha forest, on the banks of the Mandakini, in Alaka, Vishala, and in Nandana, the finest woods.

गन्धमादनपादेषु मेरुश्रृङ्गे नगोत्तमे। उत्तरांश्च कुरून् प्राप्य कलापग्राममेव च ।। २९.

On the slopes of Gandhamadana, on the summit of Meru, the highest mountain, reaching the northern Kurus and the village of Kalapa.

एतेषु वनसुख्येषु सुरैराचरितेषु च। उर्वश्या सहितो राजा रेमे परमया मुदा ।। २९.

In these pleasant forests, frequented by the gods, the king enjoyed supreme happiness together with Urvashi.

ऋषय ऊचुः।। गन्धर्वा चोर्वशी देवी राजानं मानुषं कथम्। देवानुत्सृज्य सम्प्राप्ता तन्नो ब्रूहि बहुश्रुत ।। २९.

The sages said: How did Urvashi, the goddess among Gandharvas, come to the mortal king, forsaking the gods? Tell us, O learned one.

सूत उवाच।। ब्रह्मशापाभिभूता सा मानुषं समुपस्थिता। ऐलं तु तं वरारोहा समयेन व्यवस्थिता ।। २९.

Suta said: Overcome by Brahma's curse, she approached the mortal; the beautiful Urvashi joined Aila under certain conditions.

आत्मनः शापमोक्षार्थं नियमं सा चकार तु । अनग्नदर्शनञ्चैव अकामात सह मैथुनम् ।। २९.

For the sake of releasing herself from the curse, she imposed restrictions: she would not be seen by fire, nor unite with him unwillingly.

द्वौ मेषौ शयनाभ्याशे स तावद् व्यवतिष्ठते। घृतमात्रं तथाहारः कालमेकन्तु पार्थिव ।। २९.

Two sheep are to be kept near the bed, and only as much food as clarified butter is to be taken; this is the period, O king.

यद्येष समयो राजन् यावत्कालञ्च ते दृढम्। तावत्कालन्तु वत्स्यामि एष नः समयः कृतः ।। २९.

If this agreement, O king, is firmly kept for as long as you wish, then I shall remain for that time; this is the condition we have set.

तस्यास्तं समयं सर्वं स राजा पर्यपालयत्। एवं सा चावसत् तस्मिन् पुरूरवसि भामिनी ।। २९.

The king faithfully observed all of that agreement; thus, the radiant lady dwelled with Pururavas.

वर्षाण्यथ चतुःषष्टिं तद्भक्त्या शापमोहिता। उर्वशी मानुषं प्राप्ता गन्धर्व्वा श्चिन्तयान्विताः ।। २९.

For sixty-four years, Urvashi, bewildered by the curse yet devoted, lived as a human; the Gandharvas were filled with concern.

गन्धर्व्वा ऊचुः। चिन्तयध्वं महाभागा यथा सा तु वराङ्गना। आगच्छेत्तु पुनर्द्देवानुर्वशी स्वर्गभूषणा ।। २९.

The Gandharvas said: 'Consider, O blessed ones, how that excellent woman, Urvashi, the ornament of heaven, might return again to the gods.'

ततो विश्वावसुर्नाम तत्राह वदतां वरः। तया तु समयस्तत्र क्रियमाणो मतोऽनघः ।। २९.

Then Vishvavasu, best among speakers, said there: 'A condition was made with her there, and it is considered blameless.'