Kama's Power and the Birth of Mara's Hosts

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.29.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्मिन् गते सानुचरे शिवस्थानं च मन्मथे । चरित्रमभवच्चित्रं तच्छृणुष्व मुनीश्वर

brahmovāca | tasmin gate sānucare śivasthānaṁ ca manmathe | caritramabhavaccitraṁ tacchṛṇuṣva munīśvara

Brahma said: When Manmatha, together with his companion, had gone to Shiva's abode, a wondrous event took place; hear it, O lord of sages.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.29.2)

गत्वा तत्र महावीरो मन्मथो मोहकारकः । स्वप्रभावं ततानाशु मोहयामास प्राणिनः

gatvā tatra mahāvīro manmatho mohakārakaḥ | svaprabhāvaṁ tatānāśu mohayāmāsa prāṇinaḥ

Going there, that mighty hero Manmatha, the bewilderer, swiftly spread forth his own power and bewitched every living creature.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.29.3)

वसन्तोऽपि प्रभावं स्वं चकार हरमोहनम् । सर्वे वृक्षा एकदैव प्रफुल्ला अभवन्मुने

vasanto'pi prabhāvaṁ svaṁ cakāra haramohanam | sarve vṛkṣā ekadaiva praphullā abhavanmune

Vasanta too put forth his own power in the effort to bewilder Hara; O sage, all the trees burst into blossom together, all at once.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.29.4)

विविधान्कृतवान्यत्नान् रत्या सह मनोभवः । जीवाः सर्वे वशं याताः सगणेशः शिवो न हि

vividhānkṛtavānyatnān ratyā saha manobhavaḥ | jīvāḥ sarve vaśaṁ yātāḥ sagaṇeśaḥ śivo na hi

Manobhava, together with Rati, made every kind of effort; all living beings fell under his sway — but Shiva, together with his hosts, did not.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.29.5)

समधोर्मदनस्यासन्प्रयासा निष्फला मुने । जगाम स निजस्थानं निवृत्य विमदस्तदा

samadhormadanasyāsanprayāsā niṣphalā mune | jagāma sa nijasthānaṁ nivṛtya vimadastadā

O sage, the efforts of Madana, together with Madhu, proved fruitless; and he then, his pride humbled, turned back and returned to his own abode.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.29.6)

कृत्वा प्रणामं विधये मह्यं गद्गदया गिरा । उवाच मदनो मां चोदासीनो विमदो मुने

kṛtvā praṇāmaṁ vidhaye mahyaṁ gadgadayā girā | uvāca madano māṁ codāsīno vimado mune

O sage, having bowed to me, the Creator, Madana, downcast and stripped of his pride, spoke to me in a voice choked with emotion.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.29.7)

काम उवाच । ब्रह्मन् शम्भुर्मोहनीयो न वै योगपरायणः । न शक्तिर्मम नान्यस्य तस्य शम्भोर्हि मोहने

kāma uvāca | brahman śambhurmohanīyo na vai yogaparāyaṇaḥ | na śaktirmama nānyasya tasya śambhorhi mohane

Kama said: O Brahma, Shambhu, wholly devoted to yoga, cannot be bewildered; neither I nor anyone else has the power to delude that Shambhu.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.29.8)

समित्रेण मया ब्रह्मन्नुपाया विविधाः कृताः । रत्या सहाखिलास्ते च निष्फला अभवन् शिवे

samitreṇa mayā brahmannupāyā vividhāḥ kṛtāḥ | ratyā sahākhilāste ca niṣphalā abhavan śive

O Brahma, together with my friend, and with Rati as well, I attempted various means, but all of them proved fruitless against Shiva.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.29.9)

शृणु ब्रह्मन्यथास्माभिः कृता हि हरमोहने । प्रयासान् विविधाँस्तात गदतस्तान्मुने मम

śṛṇu brahmanyathāsmābhiḥ kṛtā hi haramohane | prayāsān vividhā~stāta gadatastānmune mama

Hear, O Brahma, O father, O sage, of the various efforts we made to bewilder Hara, as I now relate them to you.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.29.10)

यदा समाधिमाश्रित्य स्थितः शम्भुर्नियन्त्रितः । तदा सुगन्धिवातेन शीतलेनातिवेगिना

yadā samādhimāśritya sthitaḥ śambhurniyantritaḥ | tadā sugandhivātena śītalenātiveginā

When Shambhu, in perfect self-mastery, remained absorbed in samadhi, then with a cool, fragrant, swiftly-blowing breeze —

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.29.11)

उद्वेजयामि रुद्रं स्म नित्यं मोहनकारिणा । प्रयत्नतो महादेवं समाधिस्थं त्रिलोचनम्

udvejayāmi rudraṁ sma nityaṁ mohanakāriṇā | prayatnato mahādevaṁ samādhisthaṁ trilocanam

—I ceaselessly sought to disturb Rudra with that bewitching wind, striving hard against three-eyed Mahadeva, seated deep in samadhi.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.29.12)

स्वसायकांस्तथा पञ्च समादाय शरासनम् । तस्याभितो भ्रमतस्तु मोहयंस्तद्गणानहम्

svasāyakāṁstathā pañca samādāya śarāsanam | tasyābhito bhramatastu mohayaṁstadgaṇānaham

And taking up my five arrows and my bow, circling all around him, I strove to bewilder his attendant hosts.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.29.13)

मम प्रवेशमात्रेण सुवश्याः सर्वजन्तवः । अभवद्विकृतो नैव शङ्करः सगणः प्रभुः

mama praveśamātreṇa suvaśyāḥ sarvajantavaḥ | abhavadvikṛto naiva śaṅkaraḥ sagaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

By my mere presence, every creature was easily subdued; but the Lord Shankara, together with his hosts, remained wholly unmoved.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.29.14)

यदा हिमवतः प्रस्थं स गतः प्रमथाधिपः । तत्रागतस्तदैवाहं सरतिः समधुर्विधे

yadā himavataḥ prasthaṁ sa gataḥ pramathādhipaḥ | tatrāgatastadaivāhaṁ saratiḥ samadhurvidhe

O Creator, when that Lord of the Pramathas went to the high plateau of the Himalaya, then I too, together with Rati and Madhu, went there as well.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.29.15)

यदा मेरुं गतो रुद्रो यदा वा नागकेशरम् । कैलासं वा यदा यातस्तत्राहं गतवांस्तदा

yadā meruṁ gato rudro yadā vā nāgakeśaram | kailāsaṁ vā yadā yātastatrāhaṁ gatavāṁstadā

Whenever Rudra went to Meru, or to Nagakeshara, or to Kailasa — I too went there, each and every time.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.29.16)

यदा त्यक्तसमाधिस्तु हरस्तस्थौ कदाचन । तदा तस्य पुरश्चक्रयुगं रचितवानहम्

yadā tyaktasamādhistu harastasthau kadācana | tadā tasya puraścakrayugaṁ racitavānaham

Whenever Hara, having laid aside his samadhi, paused for a while, I would then arrange before him a pair of circling glances to entice him.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.29.17)

तच्च भ्रूयुगलं ब्रह्मन् हावभावयुतं मुहुः । नानाभावानकार्षीच्च दाम्पत्यक्रममुत्तमम्

tacca bhrūyugalaṁ brahman hāvabhāvayutaṁ muhuḥ | nānābhāvānakārṣīcca dāmpatyakramamuttamam

And that pair of eyebrows, O Brahma, laden again and again with coy gesture, displayed manifold moods, enacting the finest manner of conjugal delight.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.29.18)

नीलकण्ठं महादेवं सगणं तत्पुरःस्थिताः । अकार्षुर्मोहितं भावं मृगाश्च पक्षिणस्तथा

nīlakaṇṭhaṁ mahādevaṁ sagaṇaṁ tatpuraḥsthitāḥ | akārṣurmohitaṁ bhāvaṁ mṛgāśca pakṣiṇastathā

Standing there before blue-throated Mahadeva and his hosts, even the deer and the birds displayed a bewitched, amorous mood.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.29.19)

मयूरमिथुनं तत्राकार्षीद्भावं रसोत्सुकम् । विविधां गतिमाश्रित्य पार्श्वे तस्य पुरस्तथा

mayūramithunaṁ tatrākārṣīdbhāvaṁ rasotsukam | vividhāṁ gatimāśritya pārśve tasya purastathā

There a pair of peacocks displayed a mood brimming with passion, moving about in various graceful gaits, both beside him and before him.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.29.20)

नालभद् विवरं तस्मिन् कदाचिदपि मच्छरः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि लोकेश मम शक्तिर्न मोहने

nālabhad vivaraṁ tasmin kadācidapi maccharaḥ | satyaṁ bravīmi lokeśa mama śaktirna mohane

Yet my arrow could never once find an opening upon him; I speak the truth, Lord of the world — I have no power at all to bewilder him.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.29.21)

मधुरप्यकरोत्कर्म युक्तं यत्तस्य मोहने । तच्छृणुष्व महाभाग सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

madhurapyakarotkarma yuktaṁ yattasya mohane | tacchṛṇuṣva mahābhāga satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

Madhu, too, performed his fitting part in the attempt to bewitch him; hear this, O greatly fortunate one — I speak the plain truth.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.29.22)

चम्पकान्केशरान्बालान्कारणान्पाटलांस्तथा । नागकेशरपुन्नागान्किंशुकान्केतकान् वरान्

campakānkeśarānbālānkāraṇānpāṭalāṁstathā | nāgakeśarapunnāgānkiṁśukānketakān varān

He caused to bloom the champaka, the keshara, tender young buds, the karana and patala trees, the nagakeshara, punnaga, kimshuka, and the finest ketaki flowers —

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.29.23)

मालतीमल्लिकापर्णभारान्कुरबकांस्तथा । उत्फुल्लयति तत्र स्म यत्र तिष्ठति वै हरः

mālatīmallikāparṇabhārānkurabakāṁstathā | utphullayati tatra sma yatra tiṣṭhati vai haraḥ

—the malati, the leaf-laden mallika, and the kurabaka too — he made all of these burst into bloom wherever Hara happened to stand.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.29.24)

सरांस्युत्फुल्लपद्मानि वीजयन् मलयानिलैः । यत्नात्सुगन्धीन्यकरोदतीव गिरिशाश्रमे

sarāṁsyutphullapadmāni vījayan malayānilaiḥ | yatnātsugandhīnyakarodatīva giriśāśrame

Stirring the lakes full of blooming lotuses with the breezes of Malaya, he strove to make Girisha's hermitage exceedingly fragrant.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.29.25)

लताः सर्वाः सुमनसो धत्तूराङ्कुरसञ्चयाः । वृक्षाङ्कं चिरभावेन वेष्टयन्ति स्म तत्र च

latāḥ sarvāḥ sumanaso dhattūrāṅkurasañcayāḥ | vṛkṣāṅkaṁ cirabhāvena veṣṭayanti sma tatra ca

There, all the flowering creepers, along with clusters of dhattura shoots, twined themselves for long about the trunks of the trees.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.29.26)

तान्वृक्षांश्च सुपुष्पौघान् तैः सुगन्धिसमीरणैः । दृष्ट्वा कामवशं याता मुनयोऽपि परे किमु

tānvṛkṣāṁśca supuṣpaughān taiḥ sugandhisamīraṇaiḥ | dṛṣṭvā kāmavaśaṁ yātā munayo'pi pare kimu

Seeing those trees laden with masses of fine blossoms and those fragrant breezes, even other sages came under the sway of desire — what then need be said of ordinary beings?

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.29.27)

एवं सत्यपि शम्भोर्न दृष्टं मोहस्य कारणम् । भावमात्रमकार्षीन्नो कोपो मय्यपि शङ्करः

evaṁ satyapi śambhorna dṛṣṭaṁ mohasya kāraṇam | bhāvamātramakārṣīnno kopo mayyapi śaṅkaraḥ

Yet, for all this, no cause of delusion was seen in Shambhu; not even a trace of feeling did he show, nor did Shankara grow angry with me.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.29.28)

इति सर्वमहं दृष्ट्वा ज्ञात्वा तस्य च भावनाम् । विमुखोऽहं शम्भुमोहान्नियतं ते वदाम्यहम्

iti sarvamahaṁ dṛṣṭvā jñātvā tasya ca bhāvanām | vimukho'haṁ śambhumohānniyataṁ te vadāmyaham

Having seen all this and understood his state of mind, I have turned away from the attempt to delude Shambhu — this I tell you with certainty.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.29.29)

तस्य त्यक्तसमाधेस्तु क्षणं नो दृष्टिगोचरे । शक्नुयामो वयं स्थातुं तं रुद्रं को विमोहयेत्

tasya tyaktasamādhestu kṣaṇaṁ no dṛṣṭigocare | śaknuyāmo vayaṁ sthātuṁ taṁ rudraṁ ko vimohayet

When he has set aside his samadhi, we cannot bear to stand even a moment within his gaze — who, then, could ever hope to bewilder that Rudra?

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.29.30)

ज्वलदग्निप्रकाशाक्षं जटाराशिकरालिनम् । शृङ्गिणं वीक्ष्य कः स्थातुं ब्रह्मन् शक्नोति तत्पुरः

jvaladagniprakāśākṣaṁ jaṭārāśikarālinam | śṛṅgiṇaṁ vīkṣya kaḥ sthātuṁ brahman śaknoti tatpuraḥ

Beholding him, his eyes blazing like fire, terrible with his mass of matted locks, crowned with the crescent — who, O Brahma, could ever stand before him?

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.29.31)

ब्रह्मोवाच । मनोभववचश्चेत्थं श्रुत्वाहं चतुराननः । विवक्षुरपि नावोचं चिन्ताविष्टोऽभवं तदा

brahmovāca | manobhavavacaścetthaṁ śrutvāhaṁ caturānanaḥ | vivakṣurapi nāvocaṁ cintāviṣṭo'bhavaṁ tadā

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Manobhava, I, the four-faced one, though wishing to speak, said nothing at all, and fell then into deep thought.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.29.32)

मोहनेऽहं समर्थो न हरस्येति मनोभवः । वचः श्रुत्वा महादुःखान्निरश्वसमहं मुने

mohane'haṁ samartho na harasyeti manobhavaḥ | vacaḥ śrutvā mahāduḥkhānniraśvasamahaṁ mune

'I am not able to bewilder Hara' — hearing this word of Manobhava, O sage, I let out a deep sigh in great sorrow.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.29.33)

निश्श्वासमारुता मे हि नानारूपा महाबलाः । जाता गणा लोलजिह्वा लोलाश्चातिभयङ्कराः

niśśvāsamārutā me hi nānārūpā mahābalāḥ | jātā gaṇā lolajihvā lolāścātibhayaṅkarāḥ

From the wind of that sigh of mine, there were born hosts of many forms and mighty strength, their tongues lolling, restless, and exceedingly fearsome.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.29.34)

अवादयन्त ते सर्वे नानावाद्यानसङ्ख्यकान् । पटहादिगणास्तांस्तान् विकरालान्महारवान्

avādayanta te sarve nānāvādyānasaṅkhyakān | paṭahādigaṇāstāṁstān vikarālānmahāravān

All those terrible, loud-roaring hosts began at once to play countless instruments of many kinds — drums and the like.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.29.35)

अथ ते मम निःश्वाससम्भवाश्च महागणाः । मारयच्छेदयेत्यूचुर्ब्रह्मणो मे पुरः स्थिताः

atha te mama niḥśvāsasambhavāśca mahāgaṇāḥ | mārayacchedayetyūcurbrahmaṇo me puraḥ sthitāḥ

Then those great hosts, born of my very sigh, standing there before me, Brahma, cried out, 'Slay! Cut down!'

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.29.36)

तेषां तु वदतां तत्र मारयच्छेदयेति माम् । वचः श्रुत्वा विधिं कामः प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे

teṣāṁ tu vadatāṁ tatra mārayacchedayeti mām | vacaḥ śrutvā vidhiṁ kāmaḥ pravaktumupacakrame

Hearing their cry of 'Slay, cut down' addressed to me, the Creator, Kama began to speak.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.29.37)

मुनेऽथ मां समाभाष्य तान् दृष्ट्वा मदनो गणान् । उवाच वारयन् ब्रह्मन्गणानामग्रतः स्मरः

mune'tha māṁ samābhāṣya tān dṛṣṭvā madano gaṇān | uvāca vārayan brahmangaṇānāmagrataḥ smaraḥ

O sage, then Madana, addressing me and seeing those hosts, spoke out, O Brahma, restraining them there before those very hosts.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.29.38)

काम उवाच । हे ब्रह्मन् हे प्रजानाथ सर्वसृष्टिप्रवर्तक । उत्पन्नाः क इमे वीरा विकराला भयङ्कराः

kāma uvāca | he brahman he prajānātha sarvasṛṣṭipravartaka | utpannāḥ ka ime vīrā vikarālā bhayaṅkarāḥ

Kama said: O Brahma, Lord of creatures, initiator of all creation — who are these terrible, fearsome heroes that have come into being?

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.29.39)

किं कर्मैते करिष्यन्ति कुत्र स्थास्यन्ति वा विधे । किन्नामधेया एते तद्वद तत्र नियोजय

kiṁ karmaite kariṣyanti kutra sthāsyanti vā vidhe | kinnāmadheyā ete tadvada tatra niyojaya

What task shall these perform, O Creator, and where shall they dwell? What names shall be theirs? Tell me this, and assign them their place.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.29.40)

नियोज्य तान्निजे कृत्ये स्थानं दत्त्वा च नाम च । मामाज्ञापय देवेश कृपां कृत्वा यथोचिताम्

niyojya tānnije kṛtye sthānaṁ dattvā ca nāma ca | māmājñāpaya deveśa kṛpāṁ kṛtvā yathocitām

Having assigned them their proper task, and given them a place and a name, instruct me too, O Lord of gods, with your fitting grace.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.29.41)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य मुनेऽहं लोककारकः । तमवोचं ह मदनं तेषां कर्मादिकं दिशन्

brahmovāca | iti tadvākyamākarṇya mune'haṁ lokakārakaḥ | tamavocaṁ ha madanaṁ teṣāṁ karmādikaṁ diśan

Brahma said: Hearing these words, O sage, I, the maker of the worlds, spoke to Madana, assigning to those hosts their task and all else.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.29.42)

एत उत्पन्नमात्रा हि मारयेत्यवदन् वचः । मुहुर्मुहुरतोऽमीषां नाम मारेति जायताम्

eta utpannamātrā hi mārayetyavadan vacaḥ | muhurmuhurato'mīṣāṁ nāma māreti jāyatām

Since these, the very instant they were born, cried out again and again, 'Kill!' — let their name henceforth be 'Mara.'

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.29.43)

सदैव विघ्नं जन्तूनां करिष्यन्ति गणा इमे । विना निजार्चनं काम नानाकामरतात्मनाम्

sadaiva vighnaṁ jantūnāṁ kariṣyanti gaṇā ime | vinā nijārcanaṁ kāma nānākāmaratātmanām

O Kama, these hosts shall ever create obstacles for beings absorbed in manifold desires and pleasures, unless duly worshipped themselves.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.29.44)

तवानुगमनं कर्म मुख्यमेषां मनोभव । सहायिनो भविष्यन्ति सदा तव न संशयः

tavānugamanaṁ karma mukhyameṣāṁ manobhava | sahāyino bhaviṣyanti sadā tava na saṁśayaḥ

Their chief task, O Manobhava, shall be to follow after you; they shall ever be your helpers — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.29.45)

यत्र यत्र भवान् याता स्वकर्मार्थं यदा यदा । गन्तारस्तत्र तत्रैते सहायार्थं तदा तदा

yatra yatra bhavān yātā svakarmārthaṁ yadā yadā | gantārastatra tatraite sahāyārthaṁ tadā tadā

Wherever you go, and whenever, for the sake of your own task, these shall go there too, at that very time, to lend you their aid.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.29.46)

चित्तभ्रान्तिं करिष्यन्ति त्वदस्त्रवशवर्तिनाम् । ज्ञानिनां ज्ञानमार्गं च विघ्नयिष्यन्ति सर्वथा

cittabhrāntiṁ kariṣyanti tvadastravaśavartinām | jñānināṁ jñānamārgaṁ ca vighnayiṣyanti sarvathā

They shall bring confusion upon the minds of those subject to your arrows, and shall, in every way, obstruct the path of knowledge for the wise.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.29.47)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचो मे हि सरतिः स मनोभवः । किञ्चित्प्रसन्नवदनो बभूव मुनिसत्तम

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vaco me hi saratiḥ sa manobhavaḥ | kiñcitprasannavadano babhūva munisattama

Brahma said: Hearing these words of mine, Manobhava, together with Rati, O best of sages, grew somewhat brighter in countenance.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.29.48)

श्रुत्वा तेऽपि गणाः सर्वे मदनं मां च सर्वतः । परिवार्य यथाकामं तस्थुस्तत्र निजाकृतिम्

śrutvā te'pi gaṇāḥ sarve madanaṁ māṁ ca sarvataḥ | parivārya yathākāmaṁ tasthustatra nijākṛtim

Hearing this, all those hosts too, surrounding Madana and me on every side, remained there, each in his own form, just as they pleased.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.29.49)

अथ ब्रह्मा स्मरं प्रीत्यागदं मे कुरु शासनम् । एभिः सहैव गच्छ त्वं पुनश्च हरमोहने

atha brahmā smaraṁ prītyāgadaṁ me kuru śāsanam | ebhiḥ sahaiva gaccha tvaṁ punaśca haramohane

Then I, Brahma, spoke lovingly to Smara: 'Carry out my command; go once more, together with these, to bewilder Hara.'

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.29.50)

मन आधाय यत्नानि कुरु मारगणैः सह । मोहो भवेद्यथा शम्भोर्दारग्रहणहेतवे

mana ādhāya yatnāni kuru māragaṇaiḥ saha | moho bhavedyathā śambhordāragrahaṇahetave

Fix your mind and make every effort, together with the Mara hosts, so that Shambhu may be brought under delusion, for the sake of his taking a wife.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.29.51)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचः कामः प्रोवाच वचनं पुनः । देवर्षे गौरवं मत्वा प्रणम्य विनयेन माम्

ityākarṇya vacaḥ kāmaḥ provāca vacanaṁ punaḥ | devarṣe gauravaṁ matvā praṇamya vinayena mām

Hearing these words, O celestial sage, Kama, mindful of their weight, bowed to me with humility, and spoke once more.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.29.52)

काम उवाच । मया सम्यक् कृतं कर्म मोहने तस्य यत्नतः । तन्मोहो नाभवत्तात न भविष्यति नाधुना

kāma uvāca | mayā samyak kṛtaṁ karma mohane tasya yatnataḥ | tanmoho nābhavattāta na bhaviṣyati nādhunā

Kama said: I have carried out my task fully, striving with all my might to bewilder him; yet, O father, no delusion has arisen, nor will it now.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.29.53)

तव वाग्गौरवं मत्वा दृष्ट्वा मारगणानपि । गमिष्यामि पुनस्तत्र सदारोऽहं त्वदाज्ञया

tava vāggauravaṁ matvā dṛṣṭvā māragaṇānapi | gamiṣyāmi punastatra sadāro'haṁ tvadājñayā

Yet, out of regard for the weight of your word, and having seen these Mara hosts too, I shall go there once more, together with my wife, at your command.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.29.54)

मनो निश्चितमेतद्धि तन्मोहो न भविष्यति । भस्म कुर्यान्न मे देहमिति शङ्कास्ति मे विधे

mano niścitametaddhi tanmoho na bhaviṣyati | bhasma kuryānna me dehamiti śaṅkāsti me vidhe

But my mind is resolved on this: that delusion shall not come to pass; and, O Creator, I fear too that he may reduce my body to ashes.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.29.55)

इत्युक्त्वा समधुः कामः सरतिः सभयस्तदा । ययौ मारगणैः सार्धं शिवस्थानं मुनीश्वर

ityuktvā samadhuḥ kāmaḥ saratiḥ sabhayastadā | yayau māragaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ śivasthānaṁ munīśvara

Having said this, Kama, together with Madhu and Rati, now fearful, set out with the Mara hosts, O lord of sages, toward Shiva's abode.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.29.56)

पूर्ववत् स्वप्रभावं च चक्रे मनसिजस्तदा । बहूपायं स हि मधुर्विविधां बुद्धिमावहन्

pūrvavat svaprabhāvaṁ ca cakre manasijastadā | bahūpāyaṁ sa hi madhurvividhāṁ buddhimāvahan

As before, Manasija once more exerted his own power; and Madhu too, employing many devices, brought his manifold ingenuity to bear.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.29.57)

उपायं स चकाराति तत्र मारगणोऽपि च । मोहोऽभवन्न वै शम्भोरपि कश्चित्परात्मनः

upāyaṁ sa cakārāti tatra māragaṇo'pi ca | moho'bhavanna vai śambhorapi kaścitparātmanaḥ

There, the Mara hosts too exerted every possible effort; yet not the slightest delusion arose in Shambhu, that supreme Self.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.29.58)

निवृत्त्य पुनरायातो मम स्थानं स्मरस्तदा । आसीन्मारगणोऽगर्वोऽहर्षो मेऽपि पुरस्थितः

nivṛttya punarāyāto mama sthānaṁ smarastadā | āsīnmāragaṇo'garvo'harṣo me'pi purasthitaḥ

Then Smara, having turned back, came once more to my abode; and the Mara host too, its pride and joy now spent, stood there before me.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.29.59)

कामः प्रोवाच मां तात प्रणम्य च निरुत्सवः । स्थित्वा मम पुरोऽगर्वो मारैश्च मधुना तदा

kāmaḥ provāca māṁ tāta praṇamya ca nirutsavaḥ | sthitvā mama puro'garvo māraiśca madhunā tadā

Kama, O son, without joy now, bowing to me, standing before me stripped of pride, together with the Maras and with Madhu, then spoke.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.29.60)

कृतं पूर्वादधिकतः कर्म तन्मोहने विधे । नाभवत्तस्य मोहोऽपि कश्चिद्ध्यानरतात्मनः

kṛtaṁ pūrvādadhikataḥ karma tanmohane vidhe | nābhavattasya moho'pi kaściddhyānaratātmanaḥ

O Creator, even more was done this time than before to bewitch him, yet no delusion whatsoever touched him, his soul deep in meditation.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.29.61)

न दग्धा मे तनुश्चैव तत्र तेन दयालुना । कारणं पूर्वपुण्यं च निर्विकारः स वै प्रभुः

na dagdhā me tanuścaiva tatra tena dayālunā | kāraṇaṁ pūrvapuṇyaṁ ca nirvikāraḥ sa vai prabhuḥ

Nor did he, compassionate as he is, burn my body there; the reason was my past merit, and that Lord remains ever unchanging.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.29.62)

चेद्वरस्ते हरो भार्यां गृह्णीयादिति पद्मज । परोपायं कुरु तदा विगर्व इति मे मतिः

cedvaraste haro bhāryāṁ gṛhṇīyāditi padmaja | paropāyaṁ kuru tadā vigarva iti me matiḥ

If, O Lotus-born, this is truly your wish — that Hara take a wife — then devise some other means; humbled now, this is my counsel to you.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.29.63)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा सपरीवारो ययौ कामः स्वमाश्रमम् । प्रणम्य मां स्मरन् शम्भुं गर्वदं दीनवत्सलम्

brahmovāca | ityuktvā saparīvāro yayau kāmaḥ svamāśramam | praṇamya māṁ smaran śambhuṁ garvadaṁ dīnavatsalam

Brahma said: Having said this, Kama, together with his retinue, bowed to me and departed for his own abode, his thoughts fixed upon Shambhu, humbler of pride and ever tender to the lowly.