Pururava and Urvasi

Chapter 14

Having detailed the Surya Vamsa, Sukadeva Goswami next described the Soma Vamsa. Brahma’s son was Atri, and Atri’s son was Soma (the moon-god). Soma irreligiously united with Tara and begot Budha, who later begot Pururava (also known as Aila). Sukadeva Goswami then elaborated on his history.

When the heavenly damsel, Urvasi, was attracted to Pururava, she spoke sweet words and united with him. Later, the Gandharvas stole the two lambs of Urvasi, and she angrily rebuked Pururava, who responded by immediately rescuing them. He returned triumphant but was undressed (since he had left in a rush). Seeing him return, Urvasi decided to leave him for good and thus disappeared. Pururava was overwhelmed with lamentation and repeatedly pleaded her to return. After enlightening him about the nature of materialistic women, Urvasi finally agreed to meet with him for one night a year.

This arrangement frustrated the attached Pururava even more, and though the Gandharvas gave him another suitable companion, he abandoned her in dissatisfaction. He desperately tried different things to mitigate his burning desire. Once, he made two sticks from a tree and created a fire which satisfied his lusty desires and gave birth to a son. []