Vikramōrvaśīyam

Vikramōrvaśīyam (Sanskrit: विक्रमोर्वशीयम्, meaning Urvashi Won by Valour[1]) is a five-act Sanskrit play by ancient Indian poet Kalidasa who flourished in the 4th Century CE, on the Vedic love story of king Pururavas and an Apsara, a celestial nymph named Urvashi.

As per the tradition, while the basic plot has taken elements from the sources such as the Samvada Sukta[2] of the Rigveda (ऋग्वेद), Mahabharata and others, Kalidasa has made significant adaptations to make the presentation more appealing while establishing his prowess as a playwright (नाटककार).

Vikramorvashiyam is the second of the three plays written by Kalidasa, the first being Mālavikāgnimitram (मालविकाग्निमित्रम्) and the third being the celebrated Abhijñānaśākuntalam (अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्).

According to one theory, "Vikrama" in the title alludes to Kalidasa's patron king Vikramaditya; however, there is no evidence for this. It simply means "Valour".[3]

Origin of the plot[4][5]

The classical theory of Sanskrit drama, known as Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र) makes it a rule that the plot of a Sanskrit drama 'must be famous' (नाटका: ख्यातवृत्ता: स्यात्). Accordingly, authors of Sanskrit plays use the stories from Puranas, Vedic texts and classic epics, namely Mahabharata and Ramayana for developing plays. However, the core objective of a drama is entertainment (मनोरंजन). Since everyone is familiar with the basic plot, if the presentation of the play is not interesting or enchanting in some way, people would be bored. Hence there is emphasis on originality (मौलिकता) of the playwright. In the case of Vikramorvashiyam, here is how Kalidasa has adapted the original subject:

Rigveda (ऋग्वेद): In the 95th section, called Sukta (सूक्त) of the tenth cluster (called Mandala/मण्डळ), there is a dialogue between Pururava and Urvashi. Situation suggests that she has left the king after living for four years with him. The king beseeches her to return, but she refuses (saying, "न वै स्त्रैणानि सन्ति शालावृकानां हृदयान्येता:" - meaning, the hearts of women are not like those of jackals). The story ends at that.

Shatapatha Brahmana (शतपथ ब्राह्मण): Apparently aimed at emphasizing importance of a Yagya, Pururava was attracted to Urvashi when she came to his city. She agreed with a condition, but when the king could not honor it because of manipulation by Gandharva people, she left him. Later, moved by the king's plight without her, she agreed to return once every year to him. The king still missed her a lot, so now convinced of his love, the Gandharvas asked him to perform a Yagya, due to which Pururava attained Gandharva-hood and could reunite with Urvashi (P. 1.2).

Purana: In all, Vishnu Purana (विष्णु पुराण) (4.6, 34-39), Padma Purana (पद्म पुराण) (Srishti Khanda/सृष्टिखण्ड 12, 62-68), Matsya Purana (मत्स्य पुराण) (24, 10-32), Mahabharata, Bhagavat Purana (भागवत पुराण) (9, 14) and the story of Gunadhya in Brihatkatha are the sources of the story of Pururava and Urvashi. There are multiple versions of these stories in different sources, but one can see the following elements in this pool:

(a) That Urvashi descended from heaven for some reason and met Pururava;
(b) The two lived together under some condition(s) for some time;
(c) At least on one occasion Urvashi had to part from the king under some sort of breach, for which she changed form;
(d) Urvashi returned to her form and got reunited with the king, but there came a time when she had to return to the heaven to serve Indra (e) The two had a son together, named Ayush (आयुष).

Whether they lived together happily ever after is questionable, because there is one more story in Mahabharata in which Arjuna (a descendant of Pururava) goes to heaven and meets Urvashi there. Hence, by inference she and Pururava lived together during his lifetime, as he was a mortal.

Adaptations by Kalidasa[6][7]

Adaptations by Kalidasa add novelty and surprise in the original subject, and infuse fresh depth and perspective. Here is how:

(1) Urvashi was banished from the heaven, but how she got that punishment is Kalidasa's own imagination. According to Vikramorvashiyam, she was playing the part of Lakshmi in a play directed by Bharata Muni, performed in the court of Indra. In the scene of Lakshmi Svayamvara, she was asked who she had given her heart to. Urvashi, smitten by Pururava at that time, could not distinguish between her role and her self, and ended up saying 'Pururava' instead of 'Purushottama'. This lack of mindfulness angered Bharata Muni, who cursed her to fall to earth. This curse, actually, was a boon for her. Indra, out of his appreciation for her, modified the curse by saying that she would return from earth when Pururava sees the face of their son.

(2) Some of the original versions suggest that Urvashi returned to heaven the moment her conditions were breached, without consideration for Pururava's repeated requests and his anguish at parting. However, Kalidasa adds the wonderful element of Sangamaniya gem (संगमनीय मणि) for reuniting Urvashi and Pururava with their son Ayush, and then adds visit by Narada carrying the message from Indra that since Pururava is a valued friend of his, and in future wars with demons his support is going to be pivotal, Urvashi could stay with him until end of his days. This addition of Indra's gesture at once depicts Urvashi's hesitation and pain to leave, desire to stay, being bound by the curse - all being eased by Indra's favor.

(3) Forest of Kartikeya where women were banned: Again, the original story mentions that the two were sent apart due to a curse, but Kalidasa adds the imagination that when the two went to Mount Gandhamadana (गन्धमादन पर्वत) after their marriage, Pururava once stared at a young Gandharva girl named Udayavati, who was playing by the river. Enraged by jealousy or displeasure, Urvashi stormed out of that place - and went straight into a forest which was prohibited for women. Thus she turned into a vine. Pururava, moved to extreme sixth stage of being in love,[8] tried to find her and this is an opportunity Kalidasa creates to add narration of Nature, and conversation of Pururava with various elements of Nature, flora and fauna. Description of Nature (प्रकृति वर्णन) is Kalidasa's forte and the metaphors he uses to describe his beloved are wonderful.

(4) Urvashi's dilemma: Kalidasa adds complexity confronting the character of Urvashi by introducing the condition that when Pururava sees the face of their son, Urvashi will return to the heaven. In Vikramorvashiyam, Urvashi conceives and delivers the son quickly without the knowledge of Pururava who never saw her pregnant (explanation is that she is a celestial being, and they have different patterns of carrying children). Son is placed under the care of Chyavan Rishi, who makes sure that since he is a Kshatriya, he would be taught Dhanurveda along with other systems of knowledge, but he will abide by the rules of the Ashram. The day Ayush breaks the code of non-violence by hunting a bird who carried a red gem, is also the day when Pururava's cherished Sangamaniya Gem is picked up by a bird who believed it to be a piece of red meat. Someone brings to the king the dead bird with the gem and the arrow that hit the bird. Chyavana Rishi sends back Ayush to Pururava's court. King reads the inscription on the arrow, which says that it belonged to "Ayush, the son of Ila's son (implying Pururava) and Urvashi". Urvashi tells the whole story of curse to Pururava who is very happy that his bane of being childless is removed, who appoints Ayush as the Prince and is very unhappy that Urvashi would now have to leave. At that point Narada brings the happy tidings and the play ends.

Plot[9]

Urvashi Pururavas, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

Once upon a time, Urvashi, who was an Apsara, was returning from the palace of Kuber on mount Kailas leaving her son Risyasringa with Vibhandaka rishi to heaven. She was with Chitralekha, Rambha and many others, but the demon named Keshin abducted Urvashi and Chitralekha and went in the North-East direction. The group of Apsaras started screaming for help, which was heard by the king Pururava, who rescued the two. Urvashi and Pururava fall in love at first sight. The nymphs were immediately summoned back to the heaven.

King tried to focus on his work, but he was unable to shake off the preoccupation with the thoughts of Urvashi. He wondered if his was a case of unrequited love. Urvashi, who had gone in invisible form to see the king, wrote a message on a birch leaf instantly, conforming her love.

Unfortunately, the leaf was carried off by the wind and stopped only at the feet of the queen Aushinari, the princess of Kashi and the wife of Pururava. The queen was enraged at first, but later declared that she would not come in the way of lovers. Before Urvashi and Pururava could talk, Urvashi was summoned again to the heaven to perform in a play. She was so smitten that she missed her cue and mispronounced her lover's name during the performance as Pururava instead of Purushottama. As a punishment, Urvashi was banished from heaven, which was modified by Indra as until the moment her human lover laid eyes on the child that she would bear him. After a series of mishaps, including Urvashi's temporary transformation into a vine, the curse was eventually lifted, and the lovers were allowed to remain together on Earth as long as Pururava lived.

Major Acts and episodes within each Act

Act-1:

Starting with Introduction or Prastavana (प्रस्तावना)
(1) Pururava volunteers to rescue Urvashi
(२) Rescue of Urvashi
(3) Mount Hemakuta
(4) Episode of single-stringed necklace

Act-2:

Starting with Prelude or Praveshaka (प्रवेशक)
(1) Forest Pramada
(2) Entry of Urvashi
(3) Episode of Bhurja Patra

Act-3:

Starting with Interlude/Vishkambhaka (विष्कंभक)
(1) Enunch inviting Pururava to Mani Mahalaya (मणिमहालय)
(2) waiting and conversation at Mani Mahalaya
(3) The ritual of taking a vow of pleasing the dear one - Priyanuprasadana Vrata (प्रियानुप्रसादन व्रत) by Aushinari accompanied by maids
(4) conversation involving Chitralekha, Pururava, Vidushaka/jester and Urvashi and her rendezvous with the king

Act-4:

Starting with Prelude or Praveshaka
(1) episode of Udayavati
(2) extreme anguish of Pururava at loss of Urvashi
(3) episode of Sangamaniya gem
(4) return to the kingdom

Act-5:

Starting with Vidushaka announcement
(1) Bird taking the gem
(२) arrival of Ayush, about whom Pururava had no knowledge
(3) Revelation by Urvashi of her conditional release from the curse
(4) entry of Naarada (नारद)
(5) Happy ending

Main characters

King Pururavas - son of Ila and Budha (who was the son of Chandra and Tara)
Urvashi - the celestial nymph
Aushinari - the Queen and the wife of Pururavas (also the princess of Kashi)

Supporting Characters

Chitralekha - another nymph and Urvashi's close friend
Nipunika - the chambermaid of Aushinari
Vidushaka - the jester and the aide in Pururava's personal matters and romantic pursuit

In popular culture

The story of a nymph marrying a noble-born human and leaving her celestial home has been used in 1957 Tamil film Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam.

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Notes

Basham, A.L. (1981). The Wonder that was India, Calcutta:Rupa, p.437
Text of Samvada Sukta (संवाद सूक्त)
Pitambar Panda (1960). Kālidāsa in His Own Words. Town Press. p. 88.
Patel, G. (2014). [in Gujarati] Vikramorvashiyamnu Mool ane Kavini Maulikata. Chapter-25, Part-2: Vikramorvashiyam in 'Mahakavi Kalidasvirachitam Malavikagnimitram, Vikramorvashiyam', Vol. 3 of Mahakavi Kalidasa-Samagra Granthavali, p. 238-240.
Pandya, S. M. & Shah, U. (1993). The Sources of the Play and the Changes Brought about by Kalidasa. (Ed.s) Chapter-3, Mahakakavikalidasavirachitam Vikramorvashiyam, Saraswati Pustak Bhandar, Ahmedabad. p. 25-29.
Patel, G. (2014). [in Gujarati] Vikramorvashiyamnu Mool ane Kavini Maulikata. Chapter-25, Part-2: Vikramorvashiyam in 'Mahakavi Kalidasvirachitam Malavikagnimitram, Vikramorvashiyam', Vol. 3 of Mahakavi Kalidasa-Samagra Granthavali, p. 238-240.
Pandya, S. M. & Shah, U. (1993). The Sources of the Play and the Changes Brought about by Kalidasa. (Ed.s) Chapter-3, Mahakakavikalidasavirachitam Vikramorvashiyam, Saraswati Pustak Bhandar, Ahmedabad. p. 25-29.
Behl, Aditya (2012). Love's Subtle Magic: An Indian Islamic Literary Tradition, 1379-1545. Oxford University Press. p. 403. ISBN 9780195146707.
Pandit, P. S. (1879). The Vikramorvashiyam: A Drama in Five Acts by Kalidasa (Ed.) The Department of Public Instruction, Govt. Central Book Depot, Bombay.

Works by Kālidāsa
Drama	Mālavikāgnimitram Shakuntala Vikramōrvaśīyam
Poetry	Raghuvaṃśa Kumārasambhava Ṛtusaṃhāra Meghadūta