The Origin of Kamoda and Narada's Deception

Verse 1 (padma.2.119.1)

एकोनविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः । कपिंजल उवाच । यस्याः प्रहसनात्तात सुहृद्यानि भवंति वै । पुष्पाणि दिव्यगंधीनि दुर्लभानि सुरासुरैः

ekonaviṁśatyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ kapiṁjala uvāca yasyāḥ prahasanāttāta suhṛdyāni bhavaṁti vai puṣpāṇi divyagaṁdhīni durlabhāni surāsuraiḥ

Kapinjala said: Father, from whose laughter arise such delightful, divinely fragrant flowers, rare even for gods and demons —

Verse 2 (padma.2.119.2)

कस्मात्तु देवताः सर्वाः प्रवांछंति महामते । शंकरः सुखमायाति हास्यपुष्पैः सुपूजितः

kasmāttu devatāḥ sarvāḥ pravāṁchaṁti mahāmate śaṁkaraḥ sukhamāyāti hāsyapuṣpaiḥ supūjitaḥ

— why do all the gods long for them alone, O wise one? Shankara comes gladly, well pleased, when worshipped with these laughter-born flowers.

Verse 3 (padma.2.119.3)

को गुणस्तस्य पुष्पस्य तन्मे कथय विस्तरात् । कामोदा सा भवेत्का तु कस्य पुत्री वरांगना

ko guṇastasya puṣpasya tanme kathaya vistarāt kāmodā sā bhavetkā tu kasya putrī varāṁganā

What is the virtue of that flower — tell me that in detail. Who is that Kamoda, whose daughter is she, that fine woman?

Verse 4 (padma.2.119.4)

हास्यात्तस्या महाभाग सुपुष्पाणि भवंति च । को गुणस्तत्कथां ब्रूहि सकलां विस्तरेण च

hāsyāttasyā mahābhāga supuṣpāṇi bhavaṁti ca ko guṇastatkathāṁ brūhi sakalāṁ vistareṇa ca

Blessed one, from her laughter arise fine flowers — what is their virtue, tell me the whole tale in full detail.

Verse 5 (padma.2.119.5)

कुंजल उवाच । पुरा देवैर्महादैत्यैः कृत्वा सौहार्दमुत्तमम् । ममंथुः सागरं क्षीरममृतार्थं समुद्यताः

kuṁjala uvāca purā devairmahādaityaiḥ kṛtvā sauhārdamuttamam mamaṁthuḥ sāgaraṁ kṣīramamṛtārthaṁ samudyatāḥ

Kunjala said: Long ago, the gods and the great demons, having made an excellent alliance with one another, undertook to churn the ocean of milk for the sake of nectar.

Verse 6 (padma.2.119.6)

मथनाद्देवदैत्यानां कन्यारत्नचतुष्टयम् । वरुणेन दर्शितं पूर्वं सोमेनैव तथा पुनः

mathanāddevadaityānāṁ kanyāratnacatuṣṭayam varuṇena darśitaṁ pūrvaṁ somenaiva tathā punaḥ

From that churning of the gods and demons, four jewels among maidens arose — first shown forth by Varuna, and then again by Soma, the moon.

Verse 7 (padma.2.119.7)

पश्चात्संदर्शितं पुण्यममृतं कलशे स्थितम् । कन्या चतुष्टयं पूर्वं देवानां हितमिच्छति

paścātsaṁdarśitaṁ puṇyamamṛtaṁ kalaśe sthitam kanyā catuṣṭayaṁ pūrvaṁ devānāṁ hitamicchati

After that, the holy nectar, held in its vessel, was revealed as well. That quartet of maidens, from the very first, desired the welfare of the gods.

Verse 8 (padma.2.119.8)

सुलक्ष्मीर्नाम सा चैका द्वितीया वारुणी तथा । ज्येष्ठा नाम तथा ख्याता कामोदान्या प्रचक्षते

sulakṣmīrnāma sā caikā dvitīyā vāruṇī tathā jyeṣṭhā nāma tathā khyātā kāmodānyā pracakṣate

One among them was named Sulakshmi, the second Varuni; the third became renowned as Jyeshtha, and the other they call Kamoda.

Verse 9 (padma.2.119.9)

तासां मध्ये वरा श्रेष्ठा पूर्वं जाता महामते । तस्माज्ज्येष्ठेति विख्याता लोके पूज्या सदैव हि

tāsāṁ madhye varā śreṣṭhā pūrvaṁ jātā mahāmate tasmājjyeṣṭheti vikhyātā loke pūjyā sadaiva hi

O wise one, among them the finest and most excellent was born first, and so she became renowned as 'Jyeshtha' (the eldest), and is ever worshipped in this world.

Verse 10 (padma.2.119.10)

वारुणीपानरूपा च पयःफेनसमुद्भवा । अमृतस्य तरंगाच्च कामोदाख्या बभूव ह

vāruṇīpānarūpā ca payaḥphenasamudbhavā amṛtasya taraṁgācca kāmodākhyā babhūva ha

Born of the foam of the milk, Varuni appeared in the very form of wine; and from a single wave of the nectar itself, the maiden named Kamoda came to be.

Verse 11 (padma.2.119.11)

सोमो राजा तथा लक्ष्मीर्जज्ञाते अमृतादपि । त्रैलोक्यभूषणः सोमः संजातः शंकरप्रियः

somo rājā tathā lakṣmīrjajñāte amṛtādapi trailokyabhūṣaṇaḥ somaḥ saṁjātaḥ śaṁkarapriyaḥ

King Soma, and Lakshmi too, were born from that very nectar — Soma became the ornament of the three worlds, beloved of Shankara.

Verse 12 (padma.2.119.12)

मृत्युरोगहरा जाता सुराणां वारुणी तथा । ज्येष्ठासु पुण्यदा जाता लोकानां हितमिच्छताम्

mṛtyurogaharā jātā surāṇāṁ vāruṇī tathā jyeṣṭhāsu puṇyadā jātā lokānāṁ hitamicchatām

Varuni became the remover of death and disease for the gods; Jyeshtha became a bestower of merit for those who desired the welfare of the worlds.

Verse 13 (padma.2.119.13)

अमृतादुत्थिता देवी कामोदा नाम पुण्यदा । विष्णोः प्रीत्यै भविष्ये तु वृक्षरूपं प्रयास्यति

amṛtādutthitā devī kāmodā nāma puṇyadā viṣṇoḥ prītyai bhaviṣye tu vṛkṣarūpaṁ prayāsyati

The goddess Kamoda, risen from the nectar, a bestower of holiness — in time to come she shall attain the form of a plant.

Verse 14 (padma.2.119.14)

विष्णुप्रीतिकरी सा तु भविष्यति सदैव हि । तुलसी नाम सा पुण्या भविष्यति न संशयः

viṣṇuprītikarī sā tu bhaviṣyati sadaiva hi tulasī nāma sā puṇyā bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

She shall ever be one who brings delight to Vishnu; that holy one shall become renowned by the name Tulsi, of this there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (padma.2.119.15)

तया सह जगन्नाथो रमिष्यति न संशयः । तुलस्याः पत्रमेकं यो नीत्वा कृष्णाय दास्यति

tayā saha jagannātho ramiṣyati na saṁśayaḥ tulasyāḥ patramekaṁ yo nītvā kṛṣṇāya dāsyati

The Lord of the universe shall take his delight together with her, without doubt. Whoever takes even a single leaf of Tulsi and offers it to Krishna —

Verse 16 (padma.2.119.16)

मेने तस्योपकाराणां किमस्मै च ददाम्यहम् । इत्येवं चिंतयेन्नित्यं तस्य प्रीतिकरो भवेत्

mene tasyopakārāṇāṁ kimasmai ca dadāmyaham ityevaṁ ciṁtayennityaṁ tasya prītikaro bhavet

— he (Krishna) considers: 'What shall I give in return for this kindness of his?' Thinking thus ever, he becomes one who ever delights in such a devotee.

Verse 17 (padma.2.119.17)

एवं कामोद नामासौ पूर्वं जाता समुद्रजा । यदा सा हसते देवी हर्षगद्गदभाषिणी

evaṁ kāmoda nāmāsau pūrvaṁ jātā samudrajā yadā sā hasate devī harṣagadgadabhāṣiṇī

Thus this goddess, named Kamoda, was born of old from the ocean. When that goddess laughs, her voice choked with joy,

Verse 18 (padma.2.119.18)

सौहृद्यानि सुगंधीनि मुखात्तस्याः पतंति वै । अम्लानानि सुपुष्पाणि यो गृह्णाति समुद्यतः

sauhṛdyāni sugaṁdhīni mukhāttasyāḥ pataṁti vai amlānāni supuṣpāṇi yo gṛhṇāti samudyataḥ

fragrant, delightful flowers fall from her very mouth. Whoever eagerly gathers those unfading, excellent flowers —

Verse 19 (padma.2.119.19)

पूजयेच्छंकरं देवं ब्रह्माणं माधवं तथा । तस्य देवाः प्रतुष्यंति यदिच्छति ददंति तत्

pūjayecchaṁkaraṁ devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ mādhavaṁ tathā tasya devāḥ pratuṣyaṁti yadicchati dadaṁti tat

— and worships with them god Shankara, Brahma, and Madhava, the gods become pleased with him, and grant him whatever he desires.

Verse 20 (padma.2.119.20)

रोदित्येषा यदा सा च केन दुःखेन दुःखिता । नेत्राश्रुभ्यो हि तस्यास्तु प्रभवंति पतंति च

rodityeṣā yadā sā ca kena duḥkhena duḥkhitā netrāśrubhyo hi tasyāstu prabhavaṁti pataṁti ca

And when she weeps, grieved by some sorrow, from her very tears flowers arise and fall.

Verse 21 (padma.2.119.21)

तानि चैव महाभाग हृद्यानि सुमहांति च । सौरभेण विना तैस्तु यः पूजयति शंकरम्

tāni caiva mahābhāga hṛdyāni sumahāṁti ca saurabheṇa vinā taistu yaḥ pūjayati śaṁkaram

Those too, blessed one, are delightful and very great; but whoever, without their fragrance, worships Shankara with them —

Verse 22 (padma.2.119.22)

तस्य दुःखं च संतापो जायते नात्र संशयः । पुष्पैस्तु तादृशैर्देवान्सकृदर्चति पापधीः

tasya duḥkhaṁ ca saṁtāpo jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ puṣpaistu tādṛśairdevānsakṛdarcati pāpadhīḥ

— sorrow and torment alone befall him, of this there is no doubt. With such flowers, whoever, sinful-minded, worships the gods even once —

Verse 23 (padma.2.119.23)

तस्य दुःखं प्रकुर्वंति देवास्तत्र न संशयः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं कामोदाख्यानमुत्तमम्

tasya duḥkhaṁ prakurvaṁti devāstatra na saṁśayaḥ etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ kāmodākhyānamuttamam

— for him the gods there bring nothing but sorrow, of this there is no doubt. This whole excellent tale of Kamoda have I now related to you.

Verse 24 (padma.2.119.24)

अथ कृष्णो विचिंत्यैव दृष्ट्वा विक्रमसाहसम् । विहुंडस्यापि पापस्य उद्यमं साहसं तदा

atha kṛṣṇo viciṁtyaiva dṛṣṭvā vikramasāhasam vihuṁḍasyāpi pāpasya udyamaṁ sāhasaṁ tadā

Then Krishna, reflecting, having witnessed the reckless daring and the very enterprise of the sinful Vihunda,

Verse 25 (padma.2.119.25)

नारदं प्रेषयामास मोहयैनं दुरासदम् । नारदस्त्वथ संश्रुत्य वाक्यं विष्णोर्महात्मनः

nāradaṁ preṣayāmāsa mohayainaṁ durāsadam nāradastvatha saṁśrutya vākyaṁ viṣṇormahātmanaḥ

sent Narada to delude that demon, so hard to overcome. Narada, hearing that word of the great-souled Vishnu,

Verse 26 (padma.2.119.26)

गच्छमानं दुरात्मानं कामोदां प्रति दानवम् । गत्वा तमाह दैत्येंद्रं नारदः प्रहसन्निव

gacchamānaṁ durātmānaṁ kāmodāṁ prati dānavam gatvā tamāha daityeṁdraṁ nāradaḥ prahasanniva

went to that wicked-souled demon, then on his way toward Kamoda. Going to him, Narada, as if smiling, said to that lord of demons —

Verse 27 (padma.2.119.27)

क्व यासि त्वं च दैत्येंद्र सत्वरं च समातुरः । सांप्रतं केन कार्येण कस्यार्थं केन नोदितः

kva yāsi tvaṁ ca daityeṁdra satvaraṁ ca samāturaḥ sāṁprataṁ kena kāryeṇa kasyārthaṁ kena noditaḥ

'Where are you going, lord of demons, in such haste and agitation? For what task, for whose sake, driven by whom?'

Verse 28 (padma.2.119.28)

ब्रह्मात्मजं नमस्कृत्य प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलि । कामोदपुष्पार्थमहं प्रस्थितो द्विजसत्तम

brahmātmajaṁ namaskṛtya pratyuvāca kṛtāṁjali kāmodapuṣpārthamahaṁ prasthito dvijasattama

Bowing to the son of Brahma (Narada), with joined hands, he replied: 'O best of the twice-born, I have set out only for Kamoda's flowers.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.119.29)

तमुवाच स धर्मात्मा पुष्पैः किं ते प्रयोजनम् । विप्रवर्यं पुनः प्राह कार्यकारणमात्मनः

tamuvāca sa dharmātmā puṣpaiḥ kiṁ te prayojanam vipravaryaṁ punaḥ prāha kāryakāraṇamātmanaḥ

That righteous one asked him: 'What use have you for flowers?' Then he told that finest of brahmins the whole reason for his errand —

Verse 30 (padma.2.119.30)

नंदनस्य वनोद्देशे काचिन्नारी वरानना । तस्या दर्शनमात्रेण गतोऽहं कामवश्यताम्

naṁdanasya vanoddeśe kācinnārī varānanā tasyā darśanamātreṇa gato'haṁ kāmavaśyatām

'In some part of the Nandana forest there was a fine woman; at the mere sight of her I fell into the grip of desire.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.119.31)

तया प्रोक्तोऽस्मि विप्रेंद्र पुष्पैः कामोदसंभवैः । पूजयस्व महादेवं पुष्पैस्तु सप्तकोटिभिः

tayā prokto'smi vipreṁdra puṣpaiḥ kāmodasaṁbhavaiḥ pūjayasva mahādevaṁ puṣpaistu saptakoṭibhiḥ

'O best of brahmins, she told me to worship Mahadeva with seven crores of flowers born of Kamoda.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.119.32)

ततस्ते सुप्रिया भार्या भविष्यामि न संशयः । तदर्थे प्रस्थितोऽस्म्यद्य कामोदाख्यं पुरं प्रति

tataste supriyā bhāryā bhaviṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ tadarthe prasthito'smyadya kāmodākhyaṁ puraṁ prati

'Then, she said, she shall become my most loving wife, without doubt — for that very purpose I have set out today toward the city named Kamoda.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.119.33)

तामहं कामयिष्यामि सिंधुजां शुणु सांप्रतम् । मनोल्लासैर्महाहासैर्हासयिष्याम्यहं पुनः

tāmahaṁ kāmayiṣyāmi siṁdhujāṁ śuṇu sāṁpratam manollāsairmahāhāsairhāsayiṣyāmyahaṁ punaḥ

'I shall win the favor of that ocean-born maiden — hear this now. With delightful jests and great laughter, I shall make her laugh, again and again.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.119.34)

प्रीता सती महाभागा हसिष्यति पुनः पुनः । तद्धास्यं गद्गदं विप्र मम कार्यप्रवर्द्धनम्

prītā satī mahābhāgā hasiṣyati punaḥ punaḥ taddhāsyaṁ gadgadaṁ vipra mama kāryapravarddhanam

'Pleased, that most blessed and virtuous one shall laugh, again and again; brahmin, that joy-choked laughter of hers shall further my very purpose.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.119.35)

तस्माद्धास्यात्पतिष्यंति दिव्यानि कुसुमानि च । तैस्तु देवमुमाकांतं पूजयिष्यामि सांप्रतम्

tasmāddhāsyātpatiṣyaṁti divyāni kusumāni ca taistu devamumākāṁtaṁ pūjayiṣyāmi sāṁpratam

'From that laughter divine flowers shall fall; with those I shall now worship the god who is Uma's beloved.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.119.36)

तेन पूजाप्रदानेन तुष्टो दास्यति मे फलम् । ईश्वरः सर्वभूतेशः शंकरो लोकभावनः

tena pūjāpradānena tuṣṭo dāsyati me phalam īśvaraḥ sarvabhūteśaḥ śaṁkaro lokabhāvanaḥ

'Pleased by that worship and offering, Ishvara, lord of all beings, Shankara, nurturer of the worlds, shall grant me my fruit.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.119.37)

नारद उवाच । तत्र दैत्य न गंतव्यं कामोदाख्ये पुरोत्तमे । विष्णुरस्ति सुमेधावी सर्वदैत्यक्षयावहः

nārada uvāca tatra daitya na gaṁtavyaṁ kāmodākhye purottame viṣṇurasti sumedhāvī sarvadaityakṣayāvahaḥ

Narada said: 'Demon, you must not go there, to that finest of cities, Kamoda. Vishnu is there, of great wisdom, a destroyer of every demon.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.119.38)

येनोपायेन पुष्पाणि कामोदाख्यानि दानव । तव हस्ते प्रयास्यंति तमुपायं वदाम्यहम्

yenopāyena puṣpāṇi kāmodākhyāni dānava tava haste prayāsyaṁti tamupāyaṁ vadāmyaham

'By what device, demon, the flowers called Kamoda shall come into your very hand — that device I shall tell you.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.119.39)

गंगातोयेषु दिव्यानि पतिष्यंति न संशयः । वाहितानि जलैर्दिव्यैरागमिष्यंति सांप्रतम्

gaṁgātoyeṣu divyāni patiṣyaṁti na saṁśayaḥ vāhitāni jalairdivyairāgamiṣyaṁti sāṁpratam

'Into the waters of the Ganga divine flowers shall fall, without doubt; borne along by those divine waters, they shall come to you presently.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.119.40)

तानि त्वं तु प्रतिगृहाण सुहृद्यानि महांति च । गृहीत्वा तानि पुष्पाणि साधयस्व मनीप्सितम्

tāni tvaṁ tu pratigṛhāṇa suhṛdyāni mahāṁti ca gṛhītvā tāni puṣpāṇi sādhayasva manīpsitam

'Those alone, most delightful and great in size, you should take up. Having taken those flowers, accomplish your heart's desire.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.119.41)

नारदो दानवश्रेष्ठं मोहयित्वा ततः पुनः । ततश्च स तु धर्मात्मा चिंतयामास वै पुनः

nārado dānavaśreṣṭhaṁ mohayitvā tataḥ punaḥ tataśca sa tu dharmātmā ciṁtayāmāsa vai punaḥ

Having thus deluded that foremost of demons, Narada, that righteous one, then fell to pondering once again —

Verse 42 (padma.2.119.42)

कथमश्रूणि सा मुंचेत्केनोपायेन दुःखिता । चिंतयानस्य तस्यैवं क्षणं वै नारदस्य च

kathamaśrūṇi sā muṁcetkenopāyena duḥkhitā ciṁtayānasya tasyaivaṁ kṣaṇaṁ vai nāradasya ca

'By what means might she shed tears, by what device might she be made sorrowful?' Pondering thus for but a moment, in Narada's mind —

Verse 43 (padma.2.119.43)

ततो बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना कामोदाख्यं पुरं गतः

tato buddhiḥ samutpannā kāmodākhyaṁ puraṁ gataḥ

— an idea then arose, and he set out toward the city named Kamoda.