Vikramōrvaśīyam is a five-act Sanskrit play by ancient Indian poet Kalidasa who flourished in the 4th Century CE, on the Vediclove 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 of the Rigveda, Mahabharata and others, Kalidasa has made significant adaptations to make the presentation more appealing while establishing his prowess as a playwright. Vikramorvashiyam is the second of the three plays written by Kalidasa, the first being Mālavikāgnimitram and the third being the celebrated Abhijñānaśākuntalam. 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".
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
Pururava volunteers to rescue Urvashi
Rescue of Urvashi
Mount Hemakuta
Episode of single-stringed necklace
Act-2:
Starting with Prelude or Praveshaka
Forest Pramada
Entry of Urvashi
Episode of Bhurja Patra
Act-3:
Starting with Interlude/Vishkambhaka
Enunch inviting Pururava to Mani Mahalaya
waiting and conversation at Mani Mahalaya
The ritual of taking a vow of pleasing the dear one - Priyanuprasadana Vrata by Aushinari accompanied by maids
conversation involving Chitralekha, Pururava, Vidushaka/jester and Urvashi and her rendezvous with the king
Act-4:
Starting with Prelude or Praveshaka
episode of Udayavati
extreme anguish of Pururava at loss of Urvashi
episode of Sangamaniya gem
return to the kingdom
Act-5:
Starting with Vidushaka announcement
Bird taking the gem
arrival of Ayush, about whom Pururava had no knowledge
