Story of Urvashi and King Pururavas is found in the Srimad
Bhagavata Purana and Padma Purana. There love story is symbolic and contains universal meaning. Pururavas was the son of Budha and Ila. He
was a great ruler and warrior. He even won several battles for Indra by
defeating demons that tormented heaven and earth.
While Pururavas was ruling earth, Urvashi the celestial
maiden was cursed by Brahma to be born on earth (In some Puranas it is
mentioned that she was cursed by Sage Bharata).
Urvashi who had heard about the greatness of Pururavas met
him. The king was bewitched by the beauty of Apsara Urvashi and wanted to marry
her.
She agreed to marry him on three conditions:
He would keep her two lambs under safe protection.
He would allow her to live on ghee.
The king agreed to all the conditions and lived happily with
her.
Urvashi was one of the greatest dancers in heaven and Indra
and other Devas were missing her. So they decided to get her back to heaven.
Gandharvas were deputed to bring back Urvashi.
One dark night rainy night when there was lightning the
Gandharvas stole the lambs of Urvashi. The lambs let out a cry. Urvashi cried
for help and the king jumped out of bed. Suddenly there was a lightning and
Urvashi saw the naked form of the king. Two conditions were broken and Urvashi
returned to heaven.
Pururavas was in great dejection. He roamed around in search
of Urvashi and after several years discovered her in Kurukshetra. Urvashi
immediately recognized the king and she came to him. She bore him several sons
and the couple lived happily for several years.
Note – There are numerous subplots in the story
like Pururavas was cursed by Acharya Tumburu that he will be
separated from Urvashi.