# उर्वशी (urvaśī)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/urvashi

उर्वशी (urvaśī) is a Sanskrit word meaning the dawn, personified as a heavenly nymph, name of a river, wish or ardent desire, identified with the Ganga, widely spreading, passion or fervent desire. Its 15 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them The Apsaras or Celestial Nymph, Wish, Desire, Ardour, A River (often Gaṅgā).

- **Root:** 1. अश् (1. aś)
- **SLP1:** `urvaSI`  **IAST:** urvaśī  **Devanagari:** उर्वशी
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urvashi
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/urvashi/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** ऊर्वशी (ūrvaśī), उर्व्वशी (urvvaśī)

## Meanings by context

### The Apsaras or Celestial Nymph (7 definitions)
- the dawn, personified as a heavenly nymph  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 218,2] उर्वशी (urvaśī) f. ( fr. उरु (uru) and √ 1. अश् (aś), ‘to pervade’, see Max Muller, Chips from a German Workshop [Cologne Addition] (Title), Chips, vol. ii, p. 99 ), ‘widely extending’, N. of the dawn (personified as an Apsaras or heavenly nymph who became the wife of Purū-ravas), RV.; Atharva-veda (Title) xviii, 3, 23; VS.; ŚBr.; Vikr. &c. [ ID=37424 rev (1322,2) ]
- Name of a famous celestial nymph who became the wife of Pururavas.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 0341-c ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) [ उरून् महतोपि अश्नुते (urūn mahatopi aśnute) वशीकरोति, उरु - अश् - क गौरा (vaśīkaroti, uru-aś-ka gaurā) ° ङीष् (° ṅīṣ) Tv. ] 1 N. of a famous Apsaras or nymph of Indra's heaven who became the wife of Purūravas. [Urvaśī is frequently mentioned in the Ṛgveda; at her sight the seed of Mitra and Varuṇa fell down, from which arose Agastya and Vasiṣṭha; (see Agastya). Being cursed by Mitra and Varuṇa she came down to the world of mortals, and became the wife of Purūravas, whom she chanced to see while descending, and who made a very favourable impression upon her mind. She lived with him for some time, and went up to heaven at the expiration of her curse. Purūravas was sorely grievved at her loss, but succeeded in securing her company once more. She bore him a son named Āyus, and then left him for ever. The account given in the Vikramorvaśīyam differs in many respects, where Indra is represented to have favoured Purūravas with her lifelong company though he had himself cursed her. Mythologically she is said to have sprung from the thigh of the sage Nārāyaṇa, q. v. ]
- The name of an apsaras  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 147-12 ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) f. The name of an apsaras. (See App. II.) [ ID=7087 ]
- the name of an Apsaras  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 0131-b ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) urvaśī, f. The name of an Apsaras, Vikr. d. 110, etc. [ ID=2437 ]
- An Apsaras and wife of Pururavas.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 694-2 ] Urvaśī 1, an Apsaras, wife of Purūravas. § 52 (Janamejaya): I, 44, †1811 ( yatho°īṃ prāpya purā Purūravāḥ ).—§ 135 Page695-a+ 63 (Śakuntalop.): I, 74 α, 3055 (among the principal Apsarases). —§ 140 (Purūravas): I, 75, 3148 (wife of Purūravas).— § 141 (do.): I, 75, 3149 ( °sutāḥ; by Purūravas, mother of six sons, Āyus, etc.).—§ 19 (Arjuna): I, 123, 4823 (sung at the birth of Arjuna).—§ 269 (Vaiśravaṇasabhāv.): II, 10, 393 (among the Apsarases in the palace of Kubera).— § 336 (Indralokābhigamanap.): III, 43 α, 1784 (in the palace of Indra); 45, 1800, 1801, 1803, 1814; 46, 1817, 1833, 1835, 1837, (1838), (1858), 1864, (1865), 1867, 1868, 1872 ( U. fell in love with Arjuna; as he refused her she cursed him saying that he should become a woman).— § 391 (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga): III, 110, 10002 ( Apsarasaṃ, when Vibhāṇḍaka saw U. his seed come out).—§ 565 (Gālavacar.): V, 117, 3973 ( reme…yathā…U°yāñ ca Purūravāḥ ). —§ 595 (Ṣoḍaśarāj. v. Bhagīratha): VII, 60, 2254 (seems to be identified with the heavenly Gaṅgā, tathā Bhāgīrathī Gaṅgā Urvaśī cābhavatpurā ).—§ 632 b (Ṣoḍaśarāj., v. § 595): XII, 29, 961 (do., Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī tasmād Urvaśī hy abhavat purā ).—§ 716 (Śukābhipatana): XII, 333, 12577, 12601.—§ 731 b (Aṣṭāvakra-Diksaṃv.): XIII, 19 β, 1424 (in the abode of Kubera).—§ 775 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 166 β, 7641. [ ID=11215 ]
- An apsaras born of Narayana, worshipped for success in love affairs.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 1-243 ] Urvaśī (I) — an apsaras born of Nārāyaṇa; worshipped for success in love affairs. 1 While she was plucking flowers in Badari āśrama Mitra and Varuṇa saw her, when she gave birth to Agastya and Vasiṣṭha. 2 Satyadhṛti saw her, and she was mother of Śaradvata. 3 Heard of the beauty of Purūravas from Nārada, when she came to the earth due to a curse of Mitra and Varuṇa, and gave enjoyment to him so long as he satisfied her two conditions — keeping her two sheep safe, and not showing himself naked before her except in sexual intercourse. When after 64 years she saw him naked one day, she left him. He looked for her and saw her at the R. Sarasvati playing with her friends. At his request she promised a day's enjoyment with him every year. On her advice he prayed to Gandharvas, and got an Agnisthāli. Mother of six sons by Purūravas. 4 Returned to Heaven. 5 The Goddess enshrined at Badari. 6 When she danced before Indra, she forgot her abhinaya and was cursed by Bharata to become an invisible creeper for 55 years on the earth. During that time Purūravas was in the guise of Paiśāca. After the lapse of the period she bore him 8 sons. 7 In the sabhā of Hiraṇyakaśipu. 8 Mother of six sons by Aila. 9 Also Ūrvaśī (s.v.). [ Footnote: 1) Br. III. 7. 16; Bhā. II. 3. 6.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. VI. 18. 6; IX. 13. 6; M. 201. 25-29; Vi. IV. 5. 11-12.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. IX. 21. 35; Vi. IV. 19. 65.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. IX. 14. 16-42; 15. 1; XI. 26. 4-5 and 25; Br. III. 65. 46; 66. 4-5; Vā. 2. 16; 91. 4; Vi. IV. 6. 35-78.] [ Footnote: 5) Bhā. XI. 4. 15; Br. IV. 33. 18.] [ Footnote: 6) M. 13. 49.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. 24. 12-33.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. 161. 25.] [ Footnote: 9) Vā. 90. 45.] [ ID=1925 ]
- 1. The Apsaras presiding over the month of Saha. 2. Associated with the sun in Hemanta. 3. In the sun's chariot in the Margashirsha month. 4. A female philosopher or expounder of the Veda.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Urvaśī (II) — The Apsaras presiding over the month of Saha. 1 With the sun in the Hemanta; 2 in the sun's chariot in the Mārgaśīrṣa month; 3 a Brahmavādinī. 4 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. XII. 11. 41; Br. II. 23. 18.] [ Footnote: 2) Br. I. 2. 16; Vā. 52. 18; M. 126. 19.] [ Footnote: 3) Vi. II. 10. 13.] [ Footnote: 4) Br. II. 33. 18.] [ ID=1926 ]

### Wish, Desire, Ardour (4 definitions)
- Wish or ardent desire  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 0341-c ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) [ उरून् महतोपि अश्नुते (urūn mahatopi aśnute) वशीकरोति, उरु - अश् - क गौरा (vaśīkaroti, uru-aś-ka gaurā) ° ङीष् (° ṅīṣ) Tv. ] 2 Wish, ardent desire
- 1. Passion or fervent desire. 2. Name of an Apsaras.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 055-2 ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) ur-váś-ī, f. ardour, passion, fervent desire; N. of an Apsaras. [ ID=4912 ]
- 1. Desire or ardour. 2. Name of an Apsaras.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 093 ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) f. ardour, wish, desire; N. of an Apsaras. [ ID=6018 ]
- 1. Wish or ardent desire. 2. Name of a celestial nymph in Indra's heaven who became the wife of Pururavas. 3. Identified with the Ganga.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > उर्वशी (urvaśī) [Printed book page 0175-a ] उर्वशी (urvaśī) urvaśī, f. (fr. uru-vaśī ), Ved. wish, ardour, hot desire; N. of an Apsaras or nymph of Indra's heaven, who became the wife of Purūravas; she is also identified with the Gaṅgā. —Urvaśī- nāma-mālā, f., N. of a glossary of synonymous words by an anonymous author. —Urvaśī-ramaṇa, as, m. epithet of Aila or Purūravas, the second king of the lunar race and the husband of the Apsaras Urvaśī. —Urvaśī-vallabha or urvaśī-sahāya, as, m. epithet of Purūravas; see the preceding. [ ID=12347 ]

### A River (often Gaṅgā) (1 definition)
- Name of a river  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a river, Mahābhārata (Title) xii. [ ID=37425 ]

### A Sacred Place (Tīrtha) (1 definition)
- name of a tirtha  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 695-1 ] Urvaśī 2, name of a tīrtha. § 733 u (Punarāvartanandā): XIII, 25, 1732 (on the river Lauhitya). Cf. next. [ ID=11216 ]

### An Individual who became Urvashi (1 definition)
- An Abhira girl who observed the Bhimadvadasi fast and became Urvashi.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Urvaśī (III) — An Ābhīra kanyā who observed the Bhīmadvādaśī, and became Urvaśī. M. 69. 59. [ ID=1927 ]

### Etymology of 'Urvashi' (1 definition)
- widely spreading  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 1183-a ] Urvaśī; add — according to some, more properly derived fr. uru + rt. 1. aś, to pervade, and meaning originally ‘widely-spreading.’ [ ID=54896 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546