Urvashi
Artist: Ravi Parma Press
Date: 1890
Collection: Raja Ravi Heritage Foundation, Bengaluru, India
Description
Another love story bordering on a tragic, abrupt end. The beautiful celestial apsara Urvashi is sent down from the heavens and king Puruvanas falls in love with her. She Agrees to his proposal of marriage on the condition that he never neglects her pet goats and secondly, he will never present himself naked before her. Urvashi tells him that if he disobeys the two conditions at any time, she would go away.
Puruvanas remains rooted in love and stays true, causing dismay to the Devas, who want Urvashi back in their abode. Some of them come down stealthily at night and steal the goats; hearing the animals' cry Urvashi chides Puruvanas for letting go unattended. Rushing out to rescue them, the king is caught unaware as a flash of lighting reveals his naked self. With the second condition also broken, albeit unwittingly, Urvashi flies away to the heavens even as a dispirited Peruvanas desesperately tries to stop her departure.
