---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 56"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-56"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 56

> रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।  
> उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा राघवं दीप्ततेजसम्॥ १॥

On hearing Śrī Rāma’s speech, Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of his brave enemies, said with folded hands to splendorous Śrī Rāma. (1)

> निक्षिप्य देहौ काकुत्स्थ कथं तौ द्विजपार्थिवौ।  
> पुनर्देहेन संयोगं जग्मतुर्देवसम्मतौ॥ २॥

“O descendant of Kākutstha! How were the two, viz., the Brāhmaṇa (Vasiṣṭha) and the king, who were honoured by gods, again embodied?” (2)

> लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु राम इक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः।  
> प्रत्युवाच महातेजा लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभः॥ ३॥

Thus asked by Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma, the foremost among men, a source of delight of the Ikṣvāku endowed with great splendour, replied to Lakṣmaṇa. (3)

> तौ परस्परशापेन देहमुत्सृज्य धार्मिकौ।  
> अभूतां नृपविप्रर्षी वायुभूतौ तपोधनौ॥ ४॥

“The two viz., the sage-like king and the Brāhmaṇa whose austerities made for their treasure and who had cursed each other, assumed the form of air after their death. (4)

> अशरीरः शरीरस्य कृतेऽन्यस्य महामुनिः।  
> वसिष्ठस्तु महातेजा जगाम पितुरन्तिकम्॥ ५॥

“The highly majestic hermit Vasiṣṭha, who was without a physical body, approached his father with a view to getting another body. (5)

> सोऽभिवाद्य ततः पादौ देवदेवस्य धर्मवित्।  
> पितामहमथोवाच वायुभूत इदं वचः॥ ६॥

“Then Vasiṣṭha, with his airy form, and who knew the essence of Dharma, after bowing respectfully to the feet of Brahmā, said the following words to the Grandsire: (6)

> भगवन् निमिशापेन विदेहत्वमुपागमम्।  
> देवदेव महादेव वायुभूतोऽहमण्डज॥ ७॥

“O God of gods! Born from the Cosmic Egg! As a result of Nimi’s curse, I have become devoid of physical body and have assumed an airy form. (7)

> सर्वेषां देहहीनानां महद् दुःखं भविष्यति।  
> लुप्यन्ते सर्वकार्याणि हीनदेहस्य वै प्रभो॥ ८॥  
> देहस्यान्यस्य सद्भावे प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि।  
> तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूरमितप्रभः॥ ९॥  
> मित्रावरुणजं तेज आविश त्वं महायशः।  
> अयोनिजस्त्वं भविता तत्रापि द्विजसत्तम।  
> धर्मेण महता युक्तः पुनरेष्यसि मे वशम्॥ १०॥

“All beings, without a physical body will suffer. Since O Lord! All the activities of a person, who is without physical body, come to a standstill. So be pleased so that I could get a new physical body.” Then self-born Brahmā endowed with infinite splendour said to him, “O highly renowned one! You enter the semen dropped by Mitra and Varuṇa, O best of Brāhmaṇa! There also you will not be born from the womb and endowed with religious merit. You will again come and remain under my control i.e., you will be born as my son.” (8—10)

> एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन अभिवाद्य प्रदक्षिणम्।  
> कृत्वा पितामहं तूर्णं प्रययौ वरुणालयम्॥ ११॥

“Thus told by god Brahmā, and after bowing to him and circumambulating to his right, Vasiṣṭha immediately left for the abode of the god Varuṇa. (11)

> तमेव कालं मित्रोऽपि वरुणत्वमकारयत्।  
> क्षीरोदेन सहोपेतः पूज्यमानः सुरेश्वरैः॥ १२॥

“At that time god Mitra was also sharing the position (status) of Varuṇa, living with the king of the sea of milk and received homage from kings of gods. (12)

> एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु उर्वशी परमाप्सराः।  
> यदृच्छया तमुद्देशमागता सखिभिर्वृता॥ १३॥

“Meanwhile Apsarā Urvaśī, the eminent of the celestial nymphs, accidentally arrived there, accompanied by her nymph friends. (13)

> तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां क्रीडन्तीं वरुणालये।  
> तदाविशत् परो हर्षो वरुणं चोर्वशीकृते॥ १४॥

“On beholding her, who was sporting in the sea of milk, Varuṇa was thrilled with joy on seeing Urvaśī. (14)

> स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्।  
> वरुणो वरयामास मैथुनायाप्सरोवराम्॥ १५॥

“Varuṇa invited her, the eminent Apsarā, whose eyes were large like the leaf of a lotus and whose face was beautiful like the full moon, for union. (15)

> प्रत्युवाच ततः सा तु वरुणं प्राञ्जलिः स्थिता।  
> मित्रेणाहं वृता साक्षात् पूर्वमेव सुरेश्वर॥ १६॥

“On this she replied to Varuṇa, with folded hands: ‘Sureśwara! I have already been chosen by god Mitra himself.’ (16)

> वरुणस्त्वब्रवीद् वाक्यं कन्दर्पशरपीडितः।  
> इदं तेजः समुत्स्रक्ष्ये कुम्भेऽस्मिन् देवनिर्मिते॥ १७॥  
> एवमुत्सृज्य सुश्रोणि त्वय्यहं वरवर्णिनि।  
> कृतकामो भविष्यामि यदि नेच्छसि सङ्गमम्॥ १८॥

Tormented by the arrows of cupid, Varuṇa said the following words: In your presence I cast my semen into this pitcher made by gods, O Pretty woman, having beautiful hips! Thus having dropped my semen, I shall get my desire fulfilled in case you do not desire our physical union. (17-18)

> तस्य तल्लोकनाथस्य वरुणस्य सुभाषितम्।  
> उर्वशी परमप्रीता श्रुत्वा वाक्यमुवाच ह॥ १९॥

“On hearing these sweet words of Varuṇa, the Lord of the western Region known as Varuṇa-Loka, Urvaśī became very happy and said the following words: (19)

> काममेतद् भवत्वेवं हृदयं मे त्वयि स्थितम्।  
> भावश्चाप्यधिकं तुभ्यं देहो मित्रस्य तु प्रभो॥ २०॥

“ ‘Be it so. My heart is set on you. I love you more, but, O Lord! my physical body belongs to Mitra.’ (20)

> उर्वश्या एवमुक्तस्तु रेतस्तन्महदद्भुतम्।  
> ज्वलदग्निसमप्रख्यं तस्मिन् कुम्भे न्यवासृजत्॥ २१॥

“Thus told by Urvaśī, Varuṇa dropped his mighty wonderful semen, which was like a flame of burning fire, into the pitcher. (21)

> उर्वशी त्वगमत् तत्र मित्रो वै यत्र देवता।  
> तां तु मित्रः सुसंक्रुद्ध उर्वशीमिदमब्रवीत्॥ २२॥

“Urvaśī left for the place where god Mitra was waiting for her. Mitra was infuriated and said to Urvaśī: (22)

> मयाभिमन्त्रिता पूर्वं कस्मात् त्वमवसर्जिता।  
> पतिमन्यं वृतवती किमर्थं दुष्टचारिणि॥ २३॥

“ ‘You were first invited by me. O impious woman! Why did you forsake me and chose someone else? (23)

> अनेन दुष्कृतेन त्वं मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता।  
> मनुष्यलोकमास्थाय कंचित् कालं निवत्स्यसि॥ २४॥

“ ‘Defiled by my anger on account of this sin of yours, you will live for sometime in the world of the mortals. (24)

> बुधस्य पुत्रो राजर्षिः काशिराजः पुरूरवाः।  
> तमभ्यागच्छ दुर्बुद्धे स ते भर्ता भविष्यति॥ २५॥

“ ‘O Evil-minded one! There is a Rājarṣi Purūravā, son of Budha and king of Kāśī. Go to him. He will be your husband.’ (25)

> ततः सा शापदोषेण पुरूरवसमभ्यगात्।  
> प्रतिष्ठाने पुरूरवं बुधस्यात्मजमौरसम्॥ २६॥

“Then as an evil consequence of the curse she went to Budha’s legitimate son, Purūravā, who ruled in the city of Pratiṣṭhāna. (26)

> तस्य जज्ञे ततः श्रीमानायुः पुत्रो महाबलः।  
> नहुषो यस्य पुत्रस्तु बभूवेन्द्रसमद्युतिः॥ २७॥

“From her a majestic son named Āyu endowed with great prowess, was born to him, whose son was Nahuṣa and whose majesty was like that of Indra. (27)

> वज्रमुत्सृज्य वृत्राय श्रान्तेऽथ त्रिदिवेश्वरे।  
> शतं वर्षसहस्राणि येनेन्द्रत्वं प्रशासितम्॥ २८॥

“When Indra vacated his post after hurling his thunderbolt on Vṛtra, Nahuṣa, ruled as Indra for a hundred thousand years. (28)

> सा तेन शापेन जगाम भूमिं  
> तदोर्वशी चारुदती सुनेत्रा।  
> बहूनि वर्षाण्यवसच्च सुभ्रूः  
> शापक्षयादिन्द्रसदो ययौ च॥ २९॥

“Thus, following the curse, Urvaśī, who had beautiful teeth and eyes went to the region of the earth and the beautiful woman lived there for several years and when the duration of the curse was over, she repaired to the abode of Indra.” (29)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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