Vayu Purana

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.'

समयन्युत्क्रमात् सा वै राजानं त्यक्ष्यते यथा। तदहं वच्मि वः सर्वं यथा त्यक्ष्यति सा नृपम् ।। २९.

'When that agreement is broken, she will leave the king; I will tell you all how she will abandon the ruler.'

सहसा योगमेष्यामि युष्माकं कार्यसिद्धये। एवमुक्त्वा गतस्तत्र प्रतिष्ठानं महायशाः ।। २९.

'I will suddenly appear for the success of your purpose.' Having said this, the illustrious one departed for that place.

स निशायामथागम्य मेषमेकं जहार वै। मातृवद्वर्त्तते सा तु मेषयोश्चारुहासिनी ।। २९.

Then, at night, he came and took away one sheep; she, with a lovely smile, acted as if it were her own child.

गन्धर्वागमनं ज्ञात्वा शयनस्था यशस्विनी। राजानमब्रवीत्सा तु पुत्रो मे ह्रियतेति वै ।। २९.

Knowing the coming of the Gandharvas, the illustrious lady, lying on the bed, said to the king, 'My son is being taken away.'

एवमुक्तो विनिश्चित्य नग्नस्तिष्ठति वै नृपः । नग्नं द्रक्ष्यति मां देवी समयो वितथो भवेत् ।। २९.

Thus addressed, the king, after considering, stood naked, thinking, 'If the queen sees me naked, the agreement will be broken.'

ततो भूयस्तु गन्धर्व्वा द्वितीयं मेषमाददुः। द्वितीयेऽपहृते मेषे ऐलं देवी तमब्रवीत् ।। २९.

Then the Gandharvas took the second sheep; when the second was taken, the queen said to Aila,

पुत्रौ मम हृतौ राजन्ननाथाया इव प्रभो। एवमुक्तस्तदोत्थाय नग्नो राजा प्रधावितः ।। २९.

'Both my sons have been taken, O king, as if I were without a protector.' Thus addressed, the king rose and ran out naked.

मेषाबभ्यां पदवीं राजन् गन्धर्व्वैर्व्युत्थितामथ। उत्पादिता तु महती माया तद्भवनं महत् ।। २९.

Following the tracks of the sheep, O king, the Gandharvas conjured a great illusion and a splendid palace.

प्रकाशितन्तु सहसा ततो नग्नमवेक्ष्य सा। नग्नं दृष्ट्वा तिरोऽभूत्सा अप्सरा कामरूपिणी ।। २९.

Suddenly, as it was revealed, she saw him naked; seeing him thus, the apsaras of changing form vanished.

तिरोभूतान्तु तां ज्ञात्वा गन्धर्वास्तत्र तावुभौ। मेषौ त्यक्त्वा च ते सर्वे तत्रैवान्तर्हिताभवन् ।। २९.

When the Gandharvas realized she had vanished, they both left the sheep and all disappeared there.