FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.14.21

एतावुरणकौ राजन् न्यासौ रक्षस्व मानद । संरंस्ये भवता साकं श्लाघ्य: स्त्रीणां वर: स्मृत: ॥ २१ ॥
etāv uraṇakau rājan
[etaav uranakau raajan]
nyāsau rakṣasva mānada
[nyaasau rakshasva maanada]
saṁraṁsye bhavatā sākaṁ
[samramsye bhavataa saakam]
ślāghyaḥ strīṇāṁ varaḥ smṛtaḥ
[shlaaghyah streenaam varah smritah]
etau — to these two uraṇakau — lambs rājan — O King Purūravā nyāsau — who have fallen down rakṣasva — please give protection māna-da — O one who gives all honor to a guest or visitor saṁraṁsye — I shall enjoy sexual union bhavatā sākam — in your company ślāghyaḥ — superior strīṇām — of a woman varaḥ — husband smṛtaḥ — it is said.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etāv uraṇakau rājan
etau
to these two
uraṇakau
lambs
rājan
O King Purūravā
nyāsau rakṣasva mānada
nyāsau
who have fallen down
rakṣasva
please give protection
māna-da
O one who gives all honor to a guest or visitor
saṁraṁsye bhavatā sākaṁ
saṁraṁsye
I shall enjoy sexual union
bhavatā sākam
in your company
ślāghyaḥ strīṇāṁ varaḥ smṛtaḥ
ślāghyaḥ
superior
strīṇām
of a woman
varaḥ
husband
smṛtaḥ
it is said.
My dear King Purūravā, please give protection to these two lambs, who have fallen down with me. Although I belong to the heavenly planets and you belong to earth, I shall certainly enjoy sexual union with you. I have no objection to accepting you as my husband, for you are superior in every respect.

As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.40) , yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam. There are various planets and various atmospheres within this universe. The atmosphere of the heavenly planet from which Urvaśī descended after being cursed by Mitra and Varuṇa was different from the atmosphere of this earth. Indeed, the inhabitants of the heavenly planets are certainly far superior to the inhabitants of earth. Nonetheless, Urvaśī agreed to remain the consort of Purūravā, although she belonged to a superior community. A woman who finds a man with superior qualities may accept such a man as her husband. Similarly, if a man finds a woman who is from an inferior family but who has good qualities, he can accept such a brilliant wife, as advised by Śrī Cāṇakya Paṇḍita ( strī-ratnaṁ duṣkulād api ). The combination of male and female is worthwhile if the qualities of both are on an equal level.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
My dear King Purūravā, who honors others! Please give protection to these two lambs, which I entrust to you. I shall certainly enjoy union with you. You are superior in every respect. She makes him promise in two verses since she desires to return to Svarga by expending the curse. Please protect the two sheep which I entrust to you. He who is praiseworthy is known as best for all women. There is no fault if I, a heavenly women, unite with you from earth.
Urvaśī asks Purūravā to protect two lambs that fell down with her — and proposes marriage on those terms. Every union comes with conditions and dependents we must accept; we rarely get the partner without the lambs.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'lambs' come with the relationships I have entered or am considering?
  • Am I prepared to protect them as part of loving the person?
📝 My note

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