Sri Aurobindo

Early Cultural Writings

(1890 — 1910)

Part Two. On Literature
The Poetry of Kalidasa

Appendix

Vikramorvasie: The Characters [3]

According to this story Naraian, the great Rishi, who is also Vishnu and therefore the type of the World-Saviour when he comes in the guise of the Ascetic, was meditating in the Himalayas. Indra, always hostile to ascetism, always distrustful of the contemplative and philosophic mind, sent the Opsaras to break down the concentration of Naraian’s mind and lure him into sensuous feeling. They were the fairest of the worldsisters who went and they displayed before Naraian their most marvellous grace and their sweetest words and arts. So the World Saviour smiled and from his thigh there sprang all the beauty of sensuous existence concentrated into a single form. Then the temptresses covered their faces with their veils and silently returned to heaven. Thus was born Urvasie, she that lay hid in the thigh of the Supreme.

Earlier edition of this work: Archives and Research: A biannual journal.- Volume 5, No2 (1981, December)