Madhuvidya

Author(s): S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

Reprinted from Deccan Bulletin Vol. XIV, No. 2.
(A) ARTICLES (1) Veda
ON CAKRÁN N.i IN THE RGVEDA X. 95-12-13.
By
M.A. MENENDALE
The Ryveda X,95 comprises the famous dialogue between the king Purüravas and the nymph Urvasi. According to the version of the story as preserved in the Satapatha Brāhmana (11.5.1) the dialogue is said to have occurred near a lake in the Kuruksetra where the king had come by chance while he was wandering here and there after his separation from Urvasi. Just at that time Urvasi had also come there with lier female friends and was sporting in the lake in the form of waterbirds. Urvasi recognised Purūravas and let him also recognise her. It is at this point that the dialogue between the two, as given in the present hymn, is supposed to have taken place. Purūravas tries to persuade Urvasi to come and stay with huim again, but she rejects all the approaches made by him. It is only an invisible voice in the end that seems to assure the king of a happy life in the heaven.
In order to understand the setting in which the two verses containing the expression under discussion occur, it would be worthwhile to note here in general the contents of the dialogue between the king and the nymph. Purūravas asks Urvasi to stay for a while and have a conversation with him, for, the thoughts that remain unexpressed do not give happiness to anyone. Urvasi replies that this is going to be of no use, as she has left him for ever and has become inaccessible to hin like the wind. Purūravas pleads that he himself is not responsible for Violating the condition which compelled Urvasi to desert him ; it was a trick played by the Gandharvas. Without entering into any discussion on this point, Urvasi only reminds the king that she has kept lier word. Purūravas now complains that not only Urvasi but also her friends had at that time disappeared and why? Urvasi justifies their action by saying that as she was then expecting a child, her friends had to come away to nurse the baby...... The king remembers his enjoyments in the company of Urvasi who had then disappeared like a lightning; now Urvasi has given birth to a child---may she live long ! Urvasi says that the child is nothing but the embodiment of the strength of Purūravas; she had told him of this coming event, but he would not believe her. Purūravas now wants to know if the child longs to see his father, shedding tears when he knows about him (verse 12). Urvasi assures the king that the child does shed tears, and will cry for paternal affection ; she would send the child to Purūravas--but the king would
1. For a detailed account of the story as given in the various versions, cf. GELDNER, Ied. Stud. I.243-295.
2. The condition was that Urvasi should not see the king naked. The Gandharvas had manreuvred to show the king to her in this condition with the help of a lightning.
Madhu Vidyā/3