The apsara who married Pururavas and later cursed Arjuna.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Mahabharata, with other tellings (Puranic traditions (Harivamsha, Bhagavata Purana), Regional retellings) noted where relevant.
Urvashi is a celestial nymph, the wife of Pururavas and the mother of Ayus.
In the Vana Parva, when Arjuna was in Indra's heaven, Urvashi came to him. Arjuna refused her, saying she was like a mother, as an ancestor of his line. She cursed him to lose his manhood, which was shortened to a year, and later served him during the year of disguise in Virata's court.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.