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Pururava Urvashi Samvada (पुरुरवा-ऊर्वशी संवादः) (view source)
Revision as of 23:44, 27 January 2022
, 23:44, 27 January 2022→Pururava and Urvashi Samvada: added content
== Lineage of Pururava ==
== Lineage of Pururava ==
Pururava and Urvashi and their legend has been described in the Rigveda and subsequently in the later day texts such as Shatapatha Brahmana, and Brhaddevata. Pururava has been described as a devata (of the middle tier) by Yaska in Nirukta (10. 46). Although described as a historical event, there is deeper meaning embedded in this legend according to some scholars.<ref>Vd. Ramgopal Shastri and Prof. Sadhuram (1972) ''Ved ke Akhyanoka yatarth swaroop.'' Delhi: Arya Samaj </ref>
Pururava and Urvashi and their legend has been described in the Rigveda and subsequently in the later day texts such as Shatapatha Brahmana, and Brhaddevata. Pururava has been described as a devata (of the middle tier) by Yaska in Nirukta (10. 46). Although described as a historical event, there is deeper meaning embedded in this legend according to some scholars.<ref name=":1">Vd. Ramgopal Shastri and Prof. Sadhuram (1972) ''Ved ke Akhyanoka yatarth swaroop.'' Delhi: Arya Samaj </ref>
Pururavas is a descendent of the Chandravamsha, lineage of Chandra. Descending in the order from Brahma came Atri, Chandra, Budha followed by Pururava. Budha married Ila (इला) and their son is Pururava. Hence Pururava is also called as Aila (ऐल). The dynasty started from Chandra (Lunar race) but it was Pururava who became celebrated.
Pururavas is a descendent of the Chandravamsha, lineage of Chandra. Descending in the order from Brahma came Atri, Chandra, Budha followed by Pururava. Budha married Ila (इला) and their son is Pururava. Hence Pururava is also called as Aila (ऐल). The dynasty started from Chandra (Lunar race) but it was Pururava who became celebrated.
Pururava: O Urvashi ! I am distressed due to separation from you so much so that I am unable to cast even an arrow from my quiver. I am no longer able to fight in the battlefield to bring home an uncountable number of cows. I have deviated from the duties of a Raja and hence even my warriors no longer have any work.
Pururava: O Urvashi ! I am distressed due to separation from you so much so that I am unable to cast even an arrow from my quiver. I am no longer able to fight in the battlefield to bring home an uncountable number of cows. I have deviated from the duties of a Raja and hence even my warriors no longer have any work.
Urvashi says that she feared no competition from any co-wives as she was fully satisfied with his company at all times. As soon as Pururava was born, all celestial women surrounded to see him. The flowing rivers praised him. Then the devatas prayed to him for a mighty conflict to slay the Dasyus. Hearing her words, as Pururava approached Urvashi and other apsaras, they quickly vanished fleeing like timid deer and playful horses. Pururava thought that Urvashi who shone like the celestial lightning, always fulfilled all my desires. Such Urvashi may give rise to my son who has a long life.
Urvashi says that she feared no competition from any co-wives as she was fully satisfied with his company at all times. As soon as Pururava was born, all celestial women surrounded to see him. The flowing rivers praised him. Then the devatas prayed to him for a mighty conflict to slay the Dasyus. Hearing her words, as Pururava approached Urvashi and other apsaras, they quickly vanished fleeing like timid deer and playful horses. Pururava thought that Urvashi who shone like the celestial lightning, always fulfilled all my desires. Such Urvashi may give rise to my son who has a long life. <blockquote>ज॒ज्ञि॒ष इ॒त्था गो॒पीथ्या॑य॒ हि द॒धाथ॒ तत्पु॑रूरवो म॒ ओज॑: ।
अशा॑सं त्वा वि॒दुषी॒ सस्मि॒न्नह॒न्न म॒ आशृ॑णो॒: किम॒भुग्व॑दासि ॥११॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.95.11)</blockquote>Urvashi: O Pururava! You have given rise to a son to protect this earth. I have instructed many times that I shall not return to live with you. Why are you spending time on a futile conversation instead of ruling your subjects wisely. <blockquote>क॒दा सू॒नुः पि॒तरं॑ जा॒त इ॑च्छाच्च॒क्रन्नाश्रु॑ वर्तयद्विजा॒नन् ।
को दम्प॑ती॒ सम॑नसा॒ वि यू॑यो॒दध॒ यद॒ग्निः श्वशु॑रेषु॒ दीद॑यत् ॥१२॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.95.12)</blockquote>Pururava: How can a son (born of you) live with me? He will weep (in your absence). Which householder will knowingly sever the bonds of mutual affection (of the husband and wife)? Now there sprang forth a bright light in your husband's parents' house (in the form of the expectation of a son).<blockquote>प्रति॑ ब्रवाणि व॒र्तय॑ते॒ अश्रु॑ च॒क्रन्न क्र॑न्ददा॒ध्ये॑ शि॒वायै॑ ।
प्र तत्ते॑ हिनवा॒ यत्ते॑ अ॒स्मे परे॒ह्यस्तं॑ न॒हि मू॑र॒ माप॑: ॥१३॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.95.13)</blockquote>Urvashi replies saying the son will not weep when he comes to you. I shall always wish for his well-being. But you cannot detain (live with) me. Hence depart to your dwelling, I shall send the child to you at an appropriate auspicious time.
Pururava further implores that he will depart (fall on the ground) to distant land never to return. And that he will attain mrtyu (death) and be devoured by the wolves. Urvashi forbids his words saying that he should not think of dying and that women and wolves have a same kind of disposition and friendship with them is never a lasting one. She continues saying that she wandered among people with different forms and had a delightful life for four years, having only a small quantity of butter for food. Pururava further implores that Urvashi is like rain (brings in water) and completely fills the atmosphere (with lustre). Vasishta (epithet for the giver of dwellings) himself could not rein in Urvashi, but that she should return to him. Urvashi ascertains that the devatas have blessed Aila (Pururava) with long life (overcome death) and that he propitiates them with offering havya in devayajnas and attains a position in Svargaloka.
=== Esoteric Meaning ===
=== Esoteric Meaning ===
The word Pururava has been defined as पुरूरवा बहुधा रोरूयते meaning "one who makes a lot of sound". He has been described as Aila (ऐल) meaning इला का पुत्र or the son of Ila (Rigveda. 10.95.18).
The word Pururava has been defined as पुरूरवा बहुधा रोरूयते meaning "one who makes a lot of sound". He has been described as Aila (ऐल) meaning इला का पुत्र or the son of Ila (Rigveda. 10.95.18). Ila has been referred to as Prthvi (The Earth) in Kaushitaki Brahmana (9.2). According to some scholars<ref name=":1" /> Pururava can be another name for Megha (मेधः) or clouds as the steam from the earth transforms into clouds and they make a lot of sound in the form of thunders.
As per the etymological origin of the word Urvashi, is from the root उरु (Uru) in the sense of अश् व्याप्तौ meaning 'spreading far' which can be applied to Vidyut or electric flash in the modern sense. In Nirukta (5.14), उरु अभ्यश्नुते (uru abhyashnute) means 'extensively pervading' and is a middle tier devata. 'अप्सरा अप्सु सरति' means the the waters moving in the celestial regions of the universe.<ref name=":1" />
As per Rigveda,
सम॑स्मि॒ञ्जाय॑मान आसत॒ ग्ना उ॒तेम॑वर्धन्न॒द्य१: स्वगू॑र्ताः ।
म॒हे यत्त्वा॑ पुरूरवो॒ रणा॒याऽव॑र्धयन्दस्यु॒हत्या॑य दे॒वाः ॥७॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.95.7)
When Pururava (Megha) originated then 'ग्नाः' meaning 'आपः (जल)' or water is filled with it. In Nirukta (10.46) 'ग्नाः' means 'गमनाद् आपः' or it is called water because it moves. In the above mantra, अवर्धन् नद्य: स्व-गूर्ताः means 'rivers flowing by themselves', also supports the interpretation that Pururava means clouds.
The adjectives for Urvashi given in the mantras 10 to 17 of this sukta, describe 'one that is pervasive in the atmosphere'. Such references clearly refer this legend to a poetic expression of a natural phenomenon more than to a historical instance.<ref name=":1" />
This poetic expression is a description of a natural instance where at the friction between clouds (Pururava) there flashes a lightning (Urvashi) for a few moments and disappears almost instantaneously.
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Samvadas]]
[[Category:Samvadas]]
[[Category:Rigveda]]
[[Category:Rigveda]]