Kama's Curse and Grace

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.23.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे मदभिप्रायवेदिनः । चक्रुस्तदुचितं नाम मरीचिप्रमुखाः सुताः

brahmovāca | tataste munayaḥ sarve madabhiprāyavedinaḥ | cakrustaducitaṁ nāma marīcipramukhāḥ sutāḥ

Brahma said: Then those foremost of sages, my sons headed by Marichi, who knew my very intent, gave that being a fitting name.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.23.2)

मुखावलोकनादेव ज्ञात्वा वृत्तान्तमन्यतः । दक्षादयश्च स्रष्टारः स्थानं पत्नीं च ते ददुः

mukhāvalokanādeva jñātvā vṛttāntamanyataḥ | dakṣādayaśca sraṣṭāraḥ sthānaṁ patnīṁ ca te daduḥ

Knowing his whole nature at once, merely by looking upon his face, Daksha and the other creator-sons granted him a station and a wife.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.23.3)

ततो निश्चित्य नामानि मरीचिप्रमुखा द्विजाः । ऊचुः सङ्गतमेतस्मै पुरुषाय ममात्मजाः

tato niścitya nāmāni marīcipramukhā dvijāḥ | ūcuḥ saṅgatametasmai puruṣāya mamātmajāḥ

Then Marichi and the other foremost brahmins, my own sons, having settled upon his names, spoke words befitting that being.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.23.4)

ऋषय ऊचुः । यस्मात्प्रमथसे तत्त्वं जातोऽस्माकं यथा विधेः । तस्मान्मन्मथनामा त्वं लोके ख्यातो भविष्यसि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yasmātpramathase tattvaṁ jāto'smākaṁ yathā vidheḥ | tasmānmanmathanāmā tvaṁ loke khyāto bhaviṣyasi

The sages said: 'Since you were born as one who churns even the very mind of the Creator, you shall be known in the world by the name Manmatha.'

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.23.5)

जगत्सु कामरूपस्त्वं त्वत्समो न हि विद्यते । अतस्त्वं कामनामापि ख्यातो भव मनोभव

jagatsu kāmarūpastvaṁ tvatsamo na hi vidyate | atastvaṁ kāmanāmāpi khyāto bhava manobhava

'You take on form according to your own desire in every world, and none is your equal; therefore, O Manobhava, you shall also be known by the name Kama.'

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.23.6)

मदनान्मदनाख्यस्त्वं जातो दर्पात्सदर्पकः । तस्मात्कन्दर्पनामापि लोके ख्यातो भविष्यसि

madanānmadanākhyastvaṁ jāto darpātsadarpakaḥ | tasmātkandarpanāmāpi loke khyāto bhaviṣyasi

'Born of passion, you are called Madana; and, filled with pride, you shall also be known in the world by the name Kandarpa.'

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.23.7)

त्वत्समं सर्वदेवानां यद्वीर्यं न भविष्यति । ततः स्थानानि सर्वाणि सर्वव्यापी भवांस्ततः

tvatsamaṁ sarvadevānāṁ yadvīryaṁ na bhaviṣyati | tataḥ sthānāni sarvāṇi sarvavyāpī bhavāṁstataḥ

'No power shall exist among all the gods equal to yours; therefore you shall pervade every place, present everywhere.'

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.23.8)

दक्षोऽयं भवतः पत्नीं स्वयं दास्यति कामिनीम् । आद्यः प्रजापतिर्यो हि यथेष्टं पुरुषोत्तमः

dakṣo'yaṁ bhavataḥ patnīṁ svayaṁ dāsyati kāminīm | ādyaḥ prajāpatiryo hi yatheṣṭaṁ puruṣottamaḥ

'This Daksha here, the first of Prajapatis, foremost among beings, shall himself, as you desire, give you a passionate wife.'

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.23.9)

एषा च कन्यका चारुरूपा ब्रह्ममनोभवा । सन्ध्या नाम्नेति विख्याता सर्वलोके भविष्यति

eṣā ca kanyakā cārurūpā brahmamanobhavā | sandhyā nāmneti vikhyātā sarvaloke bhaviṣyati

'And this maiden of beautiful form, who was born from Brahma's own mind, shall be renowned throughout the world by the name Sandhya.'

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.23.10)

ब्रह्मणो ध्यायतो यस्मात्सम्यग्जाता वराङ्गना । अतः सन्ध्येति विख्याता क्रान्ताभा तुल्यमल्लिका

brahmaṇo dhyāyato yasmātsamyagjātā varāṅganā | ataḥ sandhyeti vikhyātā krāntābhā tulyamallikā

'Since this excellent woman was born so fittingly from Brahma while he sat in meditation (dhyana), she is known by the name Sandhya — radiant as the jasmine flower.'

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.23.11)

ब्रह्मोवाच । कौसुमानि तथास्त्राणि पञ्चादाय मनोभवः । प्रच्छन्नरूपी तत्रैव चिन्तयामास निश्चयम्

brahmovāca | kausumāni tathāstrāṇi pañcādāya manobhavaḥ | pracchannarūpī tatraiva cintayāmāsa niścayam

Brahma said: Then Manobhava (Kama), taking up his five flower-weapons and hiding his own form, resolved there upon a fixed plan.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.23.12)

हर्षणं रोचनाख्यं च मोहनं शोषणं तथा । मारणं चेति प्रोक्तानि मुनेर्मोहकराण्यपि

harṣaṇaṁ rocanākhyaṁ ca mohanaṁ śoṣaṇaṁ tathā | māraṇaṁ ceti proktāni munermohakarāṇyapi

'Harshana' (delighting), 'Rochana' (attracting), and likewise 'Mohana' (bewildering), 'Shoshana' (withering), and 'Marana' (killing) — these were declared to be his five arrows, capable of bewildering even sages.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.23.13)

ब्रह्मणा मम यत्कर्म समुद्दिष्टं सनातनम् । तदिहैव करिष्यामि मुनीनां सन्निधौ विधेः

brahmaṇā mama yatkarma samuddiṣṭaṁ sanātanam | tadihaiva kariṣyāmi munīnāṁ sannidhau vidheḥ

'That eternal task which Brahma has assigned to me, I shall now perform right here, in the presence of the sages.'

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.23.14)

तिष्ठन्ति मुनयश्चात्र स्वयं चापि प्रजापतिः । एतेषां साक्षिभूतं मे भविष्यत्यद्य निश्चयम्

tiṣṭhanti munayaścātra svayaṁ cāpi prajāpatiḥ | eteṣāṁ sākṣibhūtaṁ me bhaviṣyatyadya niścayam

'The sages are present here, and the Prajapati himself as well; today, with them as witnesses, my resolve shall be fulfilled.'

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.23.15)

सन्ध्यापि ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्ता चेदानीं प्रेषयेद्वचः । इह कर्म परीक्ष्यैव प्रयोगान्मोहयाम्यहम्

sandhyāpi brahmaṇā proktā cedānīṁ preṣayedvacaḥ | iha karma parīkṣyaiva prayogānmohayāmyaham

'And Sandhya too has been named by Brahma himself — now, right here, by putting my art to the test, I shall bewilder them all.'

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.23.16)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा निश्चित्य च मनोभवः । पुष्पजं पुष्पजातैश्च योजयामास मार्गणैः

brahmovāca | iti sañcintya manasā niścitya ca manobhavaḥ | puṣpajaṁ puṣpajātaiśca yojayāmāsa mārgaṇaiḥ

Brahma said: Having thus resolved and reflected in his mind, Manobhava fitted his flower-fashioned bow with his flower-fashioned arrows.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.23.17)

आलीढस्थानमासाद्य धनुराकृष्य यत्नतः । चकार वलयाकारं कामो धन्विवरस्तदा

ālīḍhasthānamāsādya dhanurākṛṣya yatnataḥ | cakāra valayākāraṁ kāmo dhanvivarastadā

Standing in the archer's stance, drawing his bow with careful effort, that foremost of archers, Kama, drew it into a full circle.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.23.18)

संहिते तेन कोदण्डे मारुताश्च सुगन्धयः । ववुस्तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ सम्यगाह्लादकारिणः

saṁhite tena kodaṇḍe mārutāśca sugandhayaḥ | vavustatra muniśreṣṭha samyagāhlādakāriṇaḥ

O foremost of sages, as that bow was thus strung, fragrant breezes, wholly delightful, began to blow there.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.23.19)

ततस्तानपि धात्रादीन् सर्वानेव च मानसान् । पृथक् पुष्पशरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मोहयामास मोहनः

tatastānapi dhātrādīn sarvāneva ca mānasān | pṛthak puṣpaśaraistīkṣṇairmohayāmāsa mohanaḥ

Then that bewilderer, Kama, began to bewilder each and every one of those mind-born sons, headed by Daksha, with his sharp flower-arrows.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.23.20)

ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे मोहिताश्चाप्यहं मुने । संहितो मनसा किञ्चिद्विकारं प्रापुरादितः

tataste munayaḥ sarve mohitāścāpyahaṁ mune | saṁhito manasā kiñcidvikāraṁ prāpurāditaḥ

O sage, then all those sages, and I myself as well, became bewildered, and began, one by one, to feel some disturbance stir within our minds.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.23.21)

सन्ध्यां सर्वे निरीक्षन्तः सविकारं मुहुर्मुहुः । आसन् प्रवृद्धमदनाः स्त्री यस्मान्मदनैधिनी

sandhyāṁ sarve nirīkṣantaḥ savikāraṁ muhurmuhuḥ | āsan pravṛddhamadanāḥ strī yasmānmadanaidhinī

Gazing again and again at Sandhya, with agitation growing in them, they all became filled with rising desire, for that woman was one who nourished desire itself.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.23.22)

ततः सर्वान्स मदनो मोहयित्वा पुनः पुनः । यथेन्द्रियविकारं ते प्रापुस्तानकरोत्तथा

tataḥ sarvānsa madano mohayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | yathendriyavikāraṁ te prāpustānakarottathā

Then Kama, bewildering them all again and again, wrought in each of them precisely that disturbance of the senses fitting to him.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.23.23)

उदीरितेन्द्रियो धाता वीक्ष्याहं स यदा च ताम् । तदैव चोनपञ्चाशद्भावा जाताः शरीरतः

udīritendriyo dhātā vīkṣyāhaṁ sa yadā ca tām | tadaiva conapañcāśadbhāvā jātāḥ śarīrataḥ

O sage, when I, the creator, my senses now aroused, looked upon her, at that very moment forty-nine states of feeling arose from my own body.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.23.24)

सापि तैर्वीक्ष्यमाणाथ कन्दर्पशरपातनात् । चक्रे मुहुर्मुहुर्भावान् कटाक्षावरणादिकान्

sāpi tairvīkṣyamāṇātha kandarpaśarapātanāt | cakre muhurmuhurbhāvān kaṭākṣāvaraṇādikān

She too, being gazed upon by all of them, struck by the fall of Kandarpa's arrows, began again and again to display sidelong glances and other such expressions.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.23.25)

निसर्गसुन्दरी सन्ध्या तान्भावान् मानसोद्भवान् । कुर्वन्त्यतितरां रेजे स्वर्णदीव तनूर्मिभिः

nisargasundarī sandhyā tānbhāvān mānasodbhavān | kurvantyatitarāṁ reje svarṇadīva tanūrmibhiḥ

Sandhya, beautiful by her very nature, displaying those feelings born of the mind, shone forth exceedingly, her limbs rippling like the waves of a river of gold.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.23.26)

अथ भावयुतां सन्ध्यां वीक्ष्याकार्षं प्रजापतिः । धर्माभिपूरिततनुरभिलाषमहं मुने

atha bhāvayutāṁ sandhyāṁ vīkṣyākārṣaṁ prajāpatiḥ | dharmābhipūritatanurabhilāṣamahaṁ mune

O sage, then, beholding Sandhya thus filled with those feelings, even I, the Prajapati, my body once filled with dharma, was overcome with longing.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.23.27)

ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे मरीच्यत्रिमुखा अपि । दक्षाद्याश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रापुर्वैकारिकेन्द्रियम्

tataste munayaḥ sarve marīcyatrimukhā api | dakṣādyāśca dvijaśreṣṭha prāpurvaikārikendriyam

O foremost of brahmins, then Marichi, Atri, and the others, and Daksha and the rest of the sages too, fell into that very same disturbance of the senses.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.23.28)

दृष्ट्वा तथाविधान् दक्षमरीचिप्रमुखांश्च माम् । सन्ध्यां च कर्मणि निजे श्रद्दधे मदनस्तदा

dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhān dakṣamarīcipramukhāṁśca mām | sandhyāṁ ca karmaṇi nije śraddadhe madanastadā

Seeing Daksha, Marichi, and the others, and me too, in that condition, and Sandhya as well, Madana became fully confident in his own work at that moment.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.23.29)

यदिदं ब्रह्मणा कर्म ममोद्दिष्टं मयापि तत् । कर्तुं शक्यमिति ह्यद्धा भावितं स्वभुवा तदा

yadidaṁ brahmaṇā karma mamoddiṣṭaṁ mayāpi tat | kartuṁ śakyamiti hyaddhā bhāvitaṁ svabhuvā tadā

'This task which Brahma assigned to me — it can indeed be accomplished by me too' — thus did that self-born one (Kama) resolve at that very moment.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.23.30)

इत्थं पापगतिं वीक्ष्य भ्रातृणां च पितुस्तथा । धर्मः सस्मार शम्भुं वै तदा धर्मावनं प्रभुम्

itthaṁ pāpagatiṁ vīkṣya bhrātṛṇāṁ ca pitustathā | dharmaḥ sasmāra śambhuṁ vai tadā dharmāvanaṁ prabhum

Beholding this sinful state that had befallen his brothers and his father, Dharma then called to mind the Lord Shambhu, the protector of dharma.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.23.31)

संस्मरन्मनसा धर्मः शङ्करं धर्मपालकम् । तुष्टाव विविधैर्वाक्यैर्दीनो भूत्वाजसम्भवः

saṁsmaranmanasā dharmaḥ śaṅkaraṁ dharmapālakam | tuṣṭāva vividhairvākyairdīno bhūtvājasambhavaḥ

Dharma, born of the Unborn (Brahma), calling to mind Shankara, the guardian of dharma, praised him, humbled, with words of many kinds.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.23.32)

धर्म उवाच । देवदेव महादेव धर्मपाल नमोऽस्तु ते । सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानां कर्ता शम्भो त्वमेव हि

dharma uvāca | devadeva mahādeva dharmapāla namo'stu te | sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāṁ kartā śambho tvameva hi

Dharma said: 'O God of gods, O Mahadeva, O guardian of dharma, salutations to you. O Shambhu, you alone are the doer of creation, preservation, and destruction.'

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.23.33)

सृष्टौ ब्रह्मा स्थितौ विष्णुः प्रलये हररूपधृक् । रजःसत्त्वतमोभिश्च त्रिगुणैरगुणः प्रभो

sṛṣṭau brahmā sthitau viṣṇuḥ pralaye hararūpadhṛk | rajaḥsattvatamobhiśca triguṇairaguṇaḥ prabho

'In creation you are Brahma, in preservation Vishnu, in dissolution you bear the form of Hara; though clothed in the three gunas — rajas, sattva, and tamas — O Lord, you remain beyond all qualities.'

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.23.34)

निस्त्रैगुण्यः शिवः साक्षात्तुर्यश्च प्रकृतेः परः । निर्गुणो निर्विकारी त्वं नानालीलाविशारदः

nistraiguṇyaḥ śivaḥ sākṣātturyaśca prakṛteḥ paraḥ | nirguṇo nirvikārī tvaṁ nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

'You are beyond the three gunas, Shiva himself, the fourth state, beyond even prakriti — without qualities, unchanging, yet skilled in manifold divine sports.'

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.23.35)

रक्ष रक्ष महादेव पापान्मां दुस्तरादितः । मत्पितायं तथा चेमे भ्रातरः पापबुद्धयः

rakṣa rakṣa mahādeva pāpānmāṁ dustarāditaḥ | matpitāyaṁ tathā ceme bhrātaraḥ pāpabuddhayaḥ

'O Mahadeva, save me, save me from this all but insurmountable sin. My own father here, and these my brothers too, have fallen into a sinful state of mind.'

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.23.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति स्तुतो महेशानो धर्मेणैव परः प्रभुः । तत्राजगाम शीघ्रं वै रक्षितुं धर्ममात्मभूः

brahmovāca | iti stuto maheśāno dharmeṇaiva paraḥ prabhuḥ | tatrājagāma śīghraṁ vai rakṣituṁ dharmamātmabhūḥ

Brahma said: Thus praised by Dharma, that supreme Lord Mahesha, self-existent, came there swiftly to protect Dharma.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.23.37)

जातो वियद्गतः शम्भुर्विधिं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् । मां दक्षाद्यांश्च मनसा जहासोपजहास च

jāto viyadgataḥ śambhurvidhiṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāvidham | māṁ dakṣādyāṁśca manasā jahāsopajahāsa ca

Appearing in the sky, Shambhu, beholding Vidhi (me, Brahma) and Daksha and the others in that state, laughed within himself, and mocked us.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.23.38)

स साधुवादं तान् सर्वान् विहस्य च पुनः पुनः । उवाचेदं मुनिश्रेष्ठ लज्जयन् वृषभध्वजः

sa sādhuvādaṁ tān sarvān vihasya ca punaḥ punaḥ | uvācedaṁ muniśreṣṭha lajjayan vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

O foremost of sages, mocking them all again and again, that bearer of the bull-banner spoke these words, putting them all to shame.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.23.39)

शिव उवाच । अहो ब्रह्मंस्तव कथं कामभावः समुद्गतः । दृष्ट्वा च तनयां नैव योग्यं वेदानुसारिणाम्

śiva uvāca | aho brahmaṁstava kathaṁ kāmabhāvaḥ samudgataḥ | dṛṣṭvā ca tanayāṁ naiva yogyaṁ vedānusāriṇām

Shiva said: 'O Brahman, how has this desire arisen within you, at the very sight of your own daughter? This is never fitting for those who follow the Vedas.'

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.23.40)

यथा माता च भगिनी भ्रातृपत्नी तथा सुता । एताः कुदृष्ट्या द्रष्टव्या न कदापि विपश्चिता

yathā mātā ca bhaginī bhrātṛpatnī tathā sutā | etāḥ kudṛṣṭyā draṣṭavyā na kadāpi vipaścitā

'As is a mother, a sister, or a brother's wife, so too is a daughter — a wise man should never look upon such women with an evil eye.'

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.23.41)

एष वै वेदमार्गस्य निश्चयस्त्वन्मुखे स्थितः । कथं तु काममात्रेण स ते विस्मारितो विधे

eṣa vai vedamārgasya niścayastvanmukhe sthitaḥ | kathaṁ tu kāmamātreṇa sa te vismārito vidhe

'This very certainty of the Vedic path has always dwelt upon your own lips — how then, O Vidhi, could it be forgotten by you merely because of Kama?'

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.23.42)

धैर्यं जागरितं चित्ते न कथं चतुरानन । येन क्षुद्रेण कामेन रन्तुं विघटितं विधे

dhairyaṁ jāgaritaṁ citte na kathaṁ caturānana | yena kṣudreṇa kāmena rantuṁ vighaṭitaṁ vidhe

'O four-faced one, that composure which was ever awake in your mind — how has it been shattered by so trivial a thing as desire, O Vidhi?'

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.23.43)

एकान्तयोगिनस्तस्मात्सर्वदादित्यदर्शिनः । कथं दक्षमरीच्याद्या लोलुपाः स्त्रीषु मानसाः

ekāntayoginastasmātsarvadādityadarśinaḥ | kathaṁ dakṣamarīcyādyā lolupāḥ strīṣu mānasāḥ

'How have Daksha, Marichi, and the others — solitary yogis, ever seers of the highest truth — become in their very minds so covetous toward a woman?'

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.23.44)

कथं कामोऽपि मन्दात्मा प्राबल्यात्सोऽधुनैव हि । विकृतान् कृतवान् बाणैरकालज्ञोऽल्पचेतनः

kathaṁ kāmo'pi mandātmā prābalyātso'dhunaiva hi | vikṛtān kṛtavān bāṇairakālajño'lpacetanaḥ

'And how could that dull-witted Kama too, through his own strength, just now, ignorant of proper time and shallow of understanding, so disorder all of them with his arrows?'

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.23.45)

धिक् तं श्रुतं सदा तस्य यस्य कान्ता मनोऽहरत् । धैर्यादाकृष्य लौल्येषु मज्जयत्यपि मानसम्

dhik taṁ śrutaṁ sadā tasya yasya kāntā mano'harat | dhairyādākṛṣya laulyeṣu majjayatyapi mānasam

'Shame upon that knowledge whose very mind can be stolen away by a woman — who draws even a steady mind out of its composure and drowns it in fickleness!'

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.23.46)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा लोके सोऽहं शिवस्य च । व्रीडया द्विगुणीभूतः स्वेदार्द्रस्त्वभवं क्षणात्

brahmovāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā loke so'haṁ śivasya ca | vrīḍayā dviguṇībhūtaḥ svedārdrastvabhavaṁ kṣaṇāt

Brahma said: Hearing these words of his, doubly overcome with shame before the world and before Shiva himself, I became drenched in sweat in an instant.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.23.47)

ततः कामविकारं हि निगृह्य चात्यजं मुने । जिघृक्षुरपि तद्भीत्या तां सन्ध्यां कामरूपिणीम्

tataḥ kāmavikāraṁ hi nigṛhya cātyajaṁ mune | jighṛkṣurapi tadbhītyā tāṁ sandhyāṁ kāmarūpiṇīm

O sage, then, though I restrained and cast off that disturbance of desire, still, in that very fear, I could not fully abandon the wish to take hold of that desire-embodying Sandhya.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.23.48)

मच्छरीरात्तु घर्माम्भो यत्पपात द्विजोत्तम । अग्निष्वात्ताः पितृगणा जाताः पितृगणास्ततः

maccharīrāttu gharmāmbho yatpapāta dvijottama | agniṣvāttāḥ pitṛgaṇā jātāḥ pitṛgaṇāstataḥ

O best of brahmins, from my own body there fell drops of sweat, and from them were born the class of ancestors called Agnishvattas.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.23.49)

भिन्नाञ्जननिभाः सर्वे फुल्लराजीवलोचनाः । नितान्तयतयः पुण्याः संसारविमुखाः परे

bhinnāñjananibhāḥ sarve phullarājīvalocanāḥ | nitāntayatayaḥ puṇyāḥ saṁsāravimukhāḥ pare

All of them were dark as collyrium in hue, their eyes like fully-blossomed lotuses, utterly self-controlled, righteous, and turned away from the world.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.23.50)

सहस्राणां चतुःषष्टिरग्निष्वात्ताः प्रकीर्तिताः । षडशीतिसहस्राणि तथा बर्हिषदो मुने

sahasrāṇāṁ catuḥṣaṣṭiragniṣvāttāḥ prakīrtitāḥ | ṣaḍaśītisahasrāṇi tathā barhiṣado mune

Sixty-four thousand Agnishvattas are declared, and, O sage, likewise eighty-six thousand Barhishad ancestors as well.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.23.51)

घर्माम्भः पतितं भूमौ तदा दक्षशरीरतः । समस्तगुणसम्पन्ना तस्माज्जाता वराङ्गना

gharmāmbhaḥ patitaṁ bhūmau tadā dakṣaśarīrataḥ | samastaguṇasampannā tasmājjātā varāṅganā

Then from Daksha's body too, drops of sweat fell upon the ground, and from them there was born an excellent woman, endowed with every virtue.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.23.52)

तन्वङ्गी सममध्या च तनुरोमावली श्रुता । मृद्वङ्गी चारुदशना नवकाञ्चनसुप्रभा

tanvaṅgī samamadhyā ca tanuromāvalī śrutā | mṛdvaṅgī cārudaśanā navakāñcanasuprabhā

She had slender limbs, a shapely waist, a fine line of soft down, gentle limbs, beautiful teeth, and was radiant as fresh gold.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.23.53)

सर्वावयवरम्या च पूर्णचन्द्राननाम्बुजा । नाम्ना रतिरिति ख्याता मुनीनामपि मोहिनी

sarvāvayavaramyā ca pūrṇacandrānanāmbujā | nāmnā ratiriti khyātā munīnāmapi mohinī

Lovely in every limb, her lotus face like the full moon, she became known by the name Rati — one who could bewilder even sages.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.23.54)

मरीचिप्रमुखाः षड् वै निगृहीतेन्द्रियक्रियाः । ऋते क्रतुं वसिष्ठं च पुलस्त्याङ्गिरसौ तथा

marīcipramukhāḥ ṣaḍ vai nigṛhītendriyakriyāḥ | ṛte kratuṁ vasiṣṭhaṁ ca pulastyāṅgirasau tathā

Except for Kratu, Vasishtha, Pulastya, and Angiras, the senses even of the other six sages, headed by Marichi, could not remain restrained.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.23.55)

क्रत्वादीनां चतुर्णां च बीजं भूमौ पपात च । तेभ्यः पितृगणा जाता अपरे मुनिसत्तम

kratvādīnāṁ caturṇāṁ ca bījaṁ bhūmau papāta ca | tebhyaḥ pitṛgaṇā jātā apare munisattama

O foremost of sages, the seed even of those four sages beginning with Kratu fell upon the ground, and from it other classes of ancestors were born.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.23.56)

सोमपा आज्यपा नाम्ना तथैवान्ये सुकालिनः । हविष्मन्तः सुताः सर्वे कव्यवाहाः प्रकीर्तिताः

somapā ājyapā nāmnā tathaivānye sukālinaḥ | haviṣmantaḥ sutāḥ sarve kavyavāhāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

They were named Somapas, Ajyapas, and likewise the other Sukalins and Havishmantas — all these classes of ancestors also became known as Kavyavahas.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.23.57)

क्रतोस्तु सोमपाः पुत्रा वसिष्ठात्कालिनस्तथा । आज्यपाख्याः पुलस्त्यस्य हविष्मन्तोऽङ्गिरः सुताः

kratostu somapāḥ putrā vasiṣṭhātkālinastathā | ājyapākhyāḥ pulastyasya haviṣmanto'ṅgiraḥ sutāḥ

From Kratu were born the Somapa sons, from Vasishtha the Sukalins, from Pulastya those named Ajyapas, and from Angiras the Havishmanta sons.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.23.58)

जातेषु तेषु विप्रेन्द्र अग्निष्वात्तादिकेष्वथ । लोकानां पितृवर्गेषु कव्यवाट् स समन्ततः

jāteṣu teṣu viprendra agniṣvāttādikeṣvatha | lokānāṁ pitṛvargeṣu kavyavāṭ sa samantataḥ

O foremost of brahmins, when all these classes of ancestors — the Agnishvattas and the rest — had been born, all these Kavyavahas spread everywhere among the ranks of ancestors in every world.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.23.59)

सन्ध्या पितृप्रसूर्भूत्वा तदुद्देशयुताभवत् । निर्दोषा शम्भुसन्दृष्टा धर्मकर्मपरायणा

sandhyā pitṛprasūrbhūtvā taduddeśayutābhavat | nirdoṣā śambhusandṛṣṭā dharmakarmaparāyaṇā

Thus, becoming the mother of the ancestors, Sandhya was joined at last to her true purpose — blameless now, seen directly by Shambhu, and given wholly over to righteous conduct.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.23.60)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शम्भुरनुगृह्याखिलान्द्विजान् । धर्मं संरक्ष्य विधिवदन्तर्धानं गतो द्रुतम्

etasminnantare śambhuranugṛhyākhilāndvijān | dharmaṁ saṁrakṣya vidhivadantardhānaṁ gato drutam

Meanwhile Shambhu, having shown his grace to all the brahmins and duly protected dharma, at once vanished from sight.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.23.61)

अथ शङ्करवाक्येन लज्जितोऽहं पितामहः । कन्दर्पायाकोपिषं हि भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननः

atha śaṅkaravākyena lajjito'haṁ pitāmahaḥ | kandarpāyākopiṣaṁ hi bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanaḥ

Then, put to shame by Shankara's words, I, the grandfather, my face contorted with a frowning brow, grew angry at Kandarpa.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.23.62)

दृष्ट्वा मुखमभिप्रायं विदित्वा सोऽपि मन्मथः । स्वबाणान्सञ्जहाराशु भीतः पशुपतेर्मुने

dṛṣṭvā mukhamabhiprāyaṁ viditvā so'pi manmathaḥ | svabāṇānsañjahārāśu bhītaḥ paśupatermune

Seeing my face and understanding my intent, that Manmatha too, in fear of Pashupati, quickly gathered back his arrows.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.23.63)

ततः कोपसमायुक्तः पद्मयोनिरहं मुने । अज्वलं चातिबलवान् दिधक्षुरिव पावकः

tataḥ kopasamāyuktaḥ padmayonirahaṁ mune | ajvalaṁ cātibalavān didhakṣuriva pāvakaḥ

O sage, then, filled with wrath, I, the lotus-born, exceedingly powerful, blazed up like a fire eager to consume, as though ready to burn all to ashes.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.23.64)

भवनेत्राग्निनिर्दग्धः कन्दर्पो दर्पमोहितः । भविष्यति महादेवे कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्

bhavanetrāgninirdagdhaḥ kandarpo darpamohitaḥ | bhaviṣyati mahādeve kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram

'This Kandarpa, deluded by his own pride, having wrought this most difficult of deeds against Mahadeva, shall in time be burnt to ashes by the very fire of Bhava's eye.'

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.23.65)

इति वेधास्त्वहं काममक्षयं द्विजसत्तम । समक्षं पितृसङ्घस्य मुनीनां च यतात्मनाम्

iti vedhāstvahaṁ kāmamakṣayaṁ dvijasattama | samakṣaṁ pitṛsaṅghasya munīnāṁ ca yatātmanām

O best of brahmins, thus did I, the Creator, pronounce upon Kama this unfailing curse, in the very presence of the assembly of ancestors and the self-controlled sages.

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.23.66)

इति भीतो रतिपतिस्तत्क्षणात्त्यक्तमार्गणः । प्रादुर्बभूव प्रत्यक्षं शापं श्रुत्वातिदारुणम्

iti bhīto ratipatistatkṣaṇāttyaktamārgaṇaḥ | prādurbabhūva pratyakṣaṁ śāpaṁ śrutvātidāruṇam

Hearing that most terrible curse, the frightened lord of Rati (Kama), at that very instant letting fall his arrow, appeared there openly before all.

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.23.67)

ब्रह्माणं मामुवाचेदं सदक्षादिसुतं मुने । शृण्वतां पितृसङ्घानां सन्ध्यायाश्च विगर्वधीः

brahmāṇaṁ māmuvācedaṁ sadakṣādisutaṁ mune | śṛṇvatāṁ pitṛsaṅghānāṁ sandhyāyāśca vigarvadhīḥ

O sage, before me, Brahma, together with Daksha and my other sons, in the hearing of the assembly of ancestors and of Sandhya, his pride now gone, he spoke thus.

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.23.68)

काम उवाच । किमर्थं भवता ब्रह्मन् शप्तोऽहमिति दारुणम् । अनागास्तव लोकेश न्याय्यमार्गानुसारिणः

kāma uvāca | kimarthaṁ bhavatā brahman śapto'hamiti dāruṇam | anāgāstava lokeśa nyāyyamārgānusāriṇaḥ

Kama said: 'O Brahman, why have you cursed me so terribly, when I have followed the path of justice, and am no offender against you, O lord of the worlds?'

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.23.69)

त्वया चोक्तं नु मत्कर्म यत्तद् ब्रह्मन् कृतं मया । तत्र योग्यो न शापो मे यतो नान्यत्कृतं मया

tvayā coktaṁ nu matkarma yattad brahman kṛtaṁ mayā | tatra yogyo na śāpo me yato nānyatkṛtaṁ mayā

'O Brahman, that very task which you yourself assigned to me — that alone have I performed; a curse is not fitting for this, for I have done nothing else.'

Verse 70 (shiva.rudra.23.70)

अहं विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुः सर्वे त्वच्छरगोचराः । इति यद्भवता प्रोक्तं तन्मयापि परीक्षितम्

ahaṁ viṣṇustathā śambhuḥ sarve tvaccharagocarāḥ | iti yadbhavatā proktaṁ tanmayāpi parīkṣitam

'That I, and Vishnu, and even Shambhu himself, all fall within the range of your arrow — this you yourself declared; I only put that very claim to the test.'

Verse 71 (shiva.rudra.23.71)

नापराधो ममाप्यत्र ब्रह्मन् मयि निरागसि । दारुणः समयश्चैष शापो देव जगत्पते

nāparādho mamāpyatra brahman mayi nirāgasi | dāruṇaḥ samayaścaiṣa śāpo deva jagatpate

'O Brahman, there is no fault in me here, for I am innocent. O god, O lord of the world, this curse is indeed a most severe judgment.'

Verse 72 (shiva.rudra.23.72)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्माहं जगतां पतिः । प्रत्यवोचं यतात्मानं मदनं दमयन्मुहुः

brahmovāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā brahmāhaṁ jagatāṁ patiḥ | pratyavocaṁ yatātmānaṁ madanaṁ damayanmuhuḥ

Brahma said: Hearing these words of his, I, Brahma, lord of the worlds, repeatedly calming that now self-controlled Madana, replied to him.

Verse 73 (shiva.rudra.23.73)

ब्रह्मोवाच । आत्मजा मम सन्ध्येयं यस्मादेतत्सकामतः । लक्ष्यीकृतोऽहं भवता ततः शापो मया कृतः

brahmovāca | ātmajā mama sandhyeyaṁ yasmādetatsakāmataḥ | lakṣyīkṛto'haṁ bhavatā tataḥ śāpo mayā kṛtaḥ

Brahma said: 'This Sandhya is my own daughter; since, under the sway of desire, you made me your very target, for that reason was this curse pronounced by me.'

Verse 74 (shiva.rudra.23.74)

अधुना शान्तरोषोऽहं त्वां वदामि मनोभव । शृणुष्व गतसन्देहः सुखी भव भयं त्यज

adhunā śāntaroṣo'haṁ tvāṁ vadāmi manobhava | śṛṇuṣva gatasandehaḥ sukhī bhava bhayaṁ tyaja

'Now my anger has grown still; listen, O Manobhava, as I speak to you — cast away your doubt, be at peace, and let go of your fear.'

Verse 75 (shiva.rudra.23.75)

त्वं भस्म भूत्वा मदन भर्गलोचनवह्निना । तथैवाशु समं पश्चाच्छरीरं प्रापयिष्यसि

tvaṁ bhasma bhūtvā madana bhargalocanavahninā | tathaivāśu samaṁ paścāccharīraṁ prāpayiṣyasi

'O Madana, you shall become ashes through the fire of Bhava's eye, and thereafter, at once, you shall in the same way obtain your body once again.'

Verse 76 (shiva.rudra.23.76)

यदा करिष्यति हरोऽञ्जसा दारपरिग्रहम् । तदा स एव भवतः शरीरं प्रापयिष्यति

yadā kariṣyati haro'ñjasā dāraparigraham | tadā sa eva bhavataḥ śarīraṁ prāpayiṣyati

'When Hara shall in due course take a wife, then he himself shall grant you back your very body.'

Verse 77 (shiva.rudra.23.77)

एवमुक्त्वाथ मदनमहं लोकपितामहः । अन्तर्गतो मुनीन्द्राणां मानसानां प्रपश्यताम्

evamuktvātha madanamahaṁ lokapitāmahaḥ | antargato munīndrāṇāṁ mānasānāṁ prapaśyatām

Brahma said: Having thus spoken to Madana, I, the grandfather of all the worlds, vanished from sight, even as those mind-born lords of sages looked on.

Verse 78 (shiva.rudra.23.78)

इत्येवं मे वचः श्रुत्वा मदनस्तेऽपि मानसाः । सम्बभूवुः सुताः सर्वे सुखिनोऽरं गृहं गताः

ityevaṁ me vacaḥ śrutvā madanaste'pi mānasāḥ | sambabhūvuḥ sutāḥ sarve sukhino'raṁ gṛhaṁ gatāḥ

Hearing these words of mine, Madana too, and all those mind-born sons, became content, and at once each went happily to his own home.