The Dialogue of Indra and Kamadeva

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.80.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । गतेषु तेषु देवेषु शक्रः सस्मार वै स्मरम् । पीडितस्तारकेनाति दैत्येन च दुरात्मना

brahmovāca gateṣu teṣu deveṣu śakraḥ sasmāra vai smaram pīḍitastārakenāti daityena ca durātmanā

Brahma said: When those gods had departed, Indra, sorely afflicted by the evil-souled demon Taraka, called Kamadeva to mind.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.80.2)

आगतस्तत्क्षणात्कामः सवसन्तो रतिप्रियः । सावलेपो युतो रत्या त्रैलोक्यविजयी प्रभुः

āgatastatkṣaṇātkāmaḥ savasanto ratipriyaḥ sāvalepo yuto ratyā trailokyavijayī prabhuḥ

That very instant Kama arrived together with Vasanta, the beloved of Rati, a proud lord and conqueror of the three worlds, accompanied by Rati.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.80.3)

प्रणामं च ततः कृत्वा स्थित्वा तत्पुरतः स्मरः । महोन्नतमनास्तात साञ्जलिः शक्रमब्रवीत्

praṇāmaṁ ca tataḥ kṛtvā sthitvā tatpurataḥ smaraḥ mahonnatamanāstāta sāñjaliḥ śakramabravīt

Then, having bowed and standing before him, Smara, his mind full of pride, spoke to Shakra with joined palms.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.80.4)

काम उवाच । किं कार्यं ते समुत्पन्नं स्मृतोऽहं केन हेतुना । तत् त्वं कथय देवेश तत्कर्तुं समुपागतः

kāma uvāca kiṁ kāryaṁ te samutpannaṁ smṛto'haṁ kena hetunā tat tvaṁ kathaya deveśa tatkartuṁ samupāgataḥ

Kama said: "O lord of the gods, what task has arisen for you, and for what reason have you remembered me? Tell me that -- I have come here precisely to accomplish it."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.80.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कन्दर्पस्य सुरेश्वरः । उवाच वचनं प्रीत्या युक्तं युक्तमिति स्तुवन्

brahmovāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya kandarpasya sureśvaraḥ uvāca vacanaṁ prītyā yuktaṁ yuktamiti stuvan

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Kamadeva, the lord of the gods spoke to him affectionately, praising him again and again as fitting and true.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.80.6)

शक्र उवाच । तव साधु समारम्भो यन्मे कार्यमुपस्थितम् । तत्कतुर्मुद्यतोऽसि त्वं धन्योऽसि मकरध्वज

śakra uvāca tava sādhu samārambho yanme kāryamupasthitam tatkaturmudyato'si tvaṁ dhanyo'si makaradhvaja

Shakra said: "O Makaradhvaja, your coming is most timely, for the task I need has now presented itself. Since you stand ready to accomplish it, you are indeed blessed."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.80.7)

प्रस्तुतं शृणु मद्वाक्यं कथयामि तवाग्रतः । मदीयं चैव यत्कार्यं त्वदीयं तन्न चान्यथा

prastutaṁ śṛṇu madvākyaṁ kathayāmi tavāgrataḥ madīyaṁ caiva yatkāryaṁ tvadīyaṁ tanna cānyathā

"Now hear this matter I set before you, which I speak in your presence: whatever task is mine is equally yours -- never otherwise."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.80.8)

मित्राणि मम सन्त्येव बहूनि सुमहान्ति च । परं तु स्मर सन्मित्रं त्वत्तुल्यं न हि कुत्रचित्

mitrāṇi mama santyeva bahūni sumahānti ca paraṁ tu smara sanmitraṁ tvattulyaṁ na hi kutracit

"I have many friends, and very great ones too, but remember, O Smara -- nowhere is there a true friend equal to you."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.80.9)

जयार्थं मे द्वयं तात निर्मितं वज्रमुत्तमम् । वज्रं च निष्फलं स्याद्वै त्वं तु नैव कदाचन

jayārthaṁ me dvayaṁ tāta nirmitaṁ vajramuttamam vajraṁ ca niṣphalaṁ syādvai tvaṁ tu naiva kadācana

"O dear one, for the sake of victory I hold two supreme instruments -- the thunderbolt and you. But the thunderbolt may yet prove fruitless; you, never."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.80.10)

यतो हितं प्रजायेत ततः को नु प्रियः परः । तस्मान्मित्रवरस्त्वं हि मत्कार्यं कर्तुमर्हसि

yato hitaṁ prajāyeta tataḥ ko nu priyaḥ paraḥ tasmānmitravarastvaṁ hi matkāryaṁ kartumarhasi

"Who is dearer than the one from whom benefit arises? Therefore, being my best of friends, you alone are fit to accomplish my task."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.80.11)

मम दुःखं समुत्पन्नमसाध्यं चापि कालजम् । केनापि नैव तच्छक्यं दूरीकर्तुं त्वया विना

mama duḥkhaṁ samutpannamasādhyaṁ cāpi kālajam kenāpi naiva tacchakyaṁ dūrīkartuṁ tvayā vinā

"An affliction has befallen me, incurable and born of fate itself. Without you, no one has the power to remove it."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.80.12)

दातुः परीक्षा दुर्भिक्षे रणे शूरस्य जायते । आपत्काले तु मित्रस्याशक्तौ स्त्रीणां कुलस्य हि

dātuḥ parīkṣā durbhikṣe raṇe śūrasya jāyate āpatkāle tu mitrasyāśaktau strīṇāṁ kulasya hi

"The test of a giver comes in famine, of a hero in battle; the test of a friend comes in calamity and helplessness -- as does the test of women and of one's own family."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.80.13)

विनये सङ्कटे प्राप्तेऽवितथस्य परोक्षतः । सुस्नेहस्य तथा तात नान्यथा सत्यमीरितम्

vinaye saṅkaṭe prāpte'vitathasya parokṣataḥ susnehasya tathā tāta nānyathā satyamīritam

"Humility is tested when trouble comes, a truthful man is tested behind his back, and, dear friend, deep affection is tested in just the same way, never otherwise -- so has the truth been declared."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.80.14)

प्राप्तायां वै ममापत्ताववार्यायां परेण हि । परीक्षा च त्वदीयाद्या मित्रवर्य भविष्यति

prāptāyāṁ vai mamāpattāvavāryāyāṁ pareṇa hi parīkṣā ca tvadīyādyā mitravarya bhaviṣyati

"This unbearable calamity, hard to avert, has now come upon me at my enemy's hands. O best of friends, this shall be your very first test."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.80.15)

न केवलं मदीयं च कार्यमस्ति सुखावहम् । किं तु सर्वसुरादीनां कार्यमेतन्न संशयः

na kevalaṁ madīyaṁ ca kāryamasti sukhāvaham kiṁ tu sarvasurādīnāṁ kāryametanna saṁśayaḥ

"This is not merely a task that brings comfort to me alone -- it is, without any doubt, the task of all the gods together."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.80.16)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येतन्मघवद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तु मकरध्वजाः । उवाच प्रेमगम्भीरं वाक्यं सुस्मितपूर्वकम्

brahmovāca ityetanmaghavadvākyaṁ śrutvā tu makaradhvajāḥ uvāca premagambhīraṁ vākyaṁ susmitapūrvakam

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Maghavan, Makaradhvaja replied with words grave with affection, a gentle smile upon his lips.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.80.17)

काम उवाच । किमर्थमित्थं वदसि नोत्तरं वच्म्यहं तव । उपकृत्कृत्रिमं लोके दृश्यते कथ्यते न च

kāma uvāca kimarthamitthaṁ vadasi nottaraṁ vacmyahaṁ tava upakṛtkṛtrimaṁ loke dṛśyate kathyate na ca

Kama said: "Why do you speak thus? To this I shall give you no reply -- in this world a feigned favor is seen, but a true one is never spoken of."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.80.18)

सङ्कटे बहु यो ब्रूते स किं कार्यं करिष्यति । तथापि च महाराज कथयामि शृणु प्रभो

saṅkaṭe bahu yo brūte sa kiṁ kāryaṁ kariṣyati tathāpi ca mahārāja kathayāmi śṛṇu prabho

"One who talks a great deal in a crisis -- what will he really accomplish? Still, O great king, O lord, I shall tell you; listen."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.80.19)

पदं ते कर्षितुं यो वै तपस्तपति दारुणम् । पातयिष्याम्यहं तं च शत्रुं ते मित्र सर्वथा

padaṁ te karṣituṁ yo vai tapastapati dāruṇam pātayiṣyāmyahaṁ taṁ ca śatruṁ te mitra sarvathā

"Whoever is performing dreadful austerity to wrest your throne from you -- that enemy of yours, O friend, I shall bring down by every means."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.80.20)

क्षणेन भ्रंशयिष्यामि कटाक्षेण वरस्त्रियाः । देवर्षिदानवादींश्च नराणां गणना न मे

kṣaṇena bhraṁśayiṣyāmi kaṭākṣeṇa varastriyāḥ devarṣidānavādīṁśca narāṇāṁ gaṇanā na me

"In an instant, with a mere sidelong glance through a beautiful woman, I can bring anyone down -- gods, sages, demons, let alone mere men, whom I do not even count."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.80.21)

वज्रं तिष्ठतु दूरे वै शस्त्राण्यन्यान्यनेकशः । किं ते कार्यं करिष्यन्ति मयि मित्र उपस्थिते

vajraṁ tiṣṭhatu dūre vai śastrāṇyanyānyanekaśaḥ kiṁ te kāryaṁ kariṣyanti mayi mitra upasthite

"Let the thunderbolt stand aside, and every other weapon besides -- what use will they be to you when I, your friend, am here?"

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.80.22)

ब्रह्माणं वा हरिं वापि भ्रष्टं कुर्यां न संशयः । अन्येषां गणना नास्ति पातयेयं हरं त्वपि

brahmāṇaṁ vā hariṁ vāpi bhraṣṭaṁ kuryāṁ na saṁśayaḥ anyeṣāṁ gaṇanā nāsti pātayeyaṁ haraṁ tvapi

"I can make even Brahma or Hari fall, without a doubt; others hardly need mentioning -- I can bring down even Hara himself."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.80.23)

पञ्चैव मृदवो बाणास्ते च पुष्पमया मम । चापस्त्रिधा पुष्पमयश्शिञ्जिनी भ्रमरार्जिता

pañcaiva mṛdavo bāṇāste ca puṣpamayā mama cāpastridhā puṣpamayaśśiñjinī bhramarārjitā

"My arrows are but five, and soft, made wholly of flowers; my bow, in three parts, is likewise made of blossoms, and its string is fashioned of bees."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.80.24)

बलं सुदयिता मे हि वसन्तः सचिवः स्मृतः । अहं पञ्चबलो देव मित्रं मम सुधानिधिः

balaṁ sudayitā me hi vasantaḥ sacivaḥ smṛtaḥ ahaṁ pañcabalo deva mitraṁ mama sudhānidhiḥ

"Vasanta, my most beloved, is known as my very minister. O god, I possess a fivefold power, and my friend is Sudhanidhi, the moon."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.80.25)

सेनाधिपश्च शृङ्गारो हावभावाश्च सैनिकाः । सर्वे मे मृदवः शक्र अहं चापि तथाविधः

senādhipaśca śṛṅgāro hāvabhāvāśca sainikāḥ sarve me mṛdavaḥ śakra ahaṁ cāpi tathāvidhaḥ

"Shringara is my general, and the graceful gestures of hava-bhava are my soldiers; all of these, O Shakra, are as tender as I myself am."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.80.26)

यद्येन पूर्यते कार्यं धीमांस्तत्तेन योजयेत् । मम योग्यं तु यत्कार्यं सर्वं तन्मे नियोजय

yadyena pūryate kāryaṁ dhīmāṁstattena yojayet mama yogyaṁ tu yatkāryaṁ sarvaṁ tanme niyojaya

"Whatever means best accomplishes a task, a wise man should employ that very means. Therefore entrust to me whatever task is fitting for my power."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.80.27)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवं तु वचस्तस्य श्रुत्वा शक्रः सुहर्षितः । उवाच प्रणमन्वाचा कामं कान्तासुखावहम्

brahmovāca ityevaṁ tu vacastasya śrutvā śakraḥ suharṣitaḥ uvāca praṇamanvācā kāmaṁ kāntāsukhāvaham

Brahma said: Hearing these words, Shakra was filled with great joy, and, bowing, spoke thus to Kama, whose very words bring delight to women.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.80.28)

शक्र उवाच । यत्कार्यं मनसोद्दिष्टं मया तात मनोभव । कर्त्तुं तत् त्वं समर्थोऽसि नान्यस्मात्तस्य सम्भवः

śakra uvāca yatkāryaṁ manasoddiṣṭaṁ mayā tāta manobhava karttuṁ tat tvaṁ samartho'si nānyasmāttasya sambhavaḥ

Shakra said: "O dear Manobhava, only you have the power to accomplish the task fixed in my mind -- from no one else could it be possible."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.80.29)

शृणु काम प्रवक्ष्यामि यथार्थं मित्रसत्तम । यदर्थे च स्पृहा जाता तव चाद्य मनोभव

śṛṇu kāma pravakṣyāmi yathārthaṁ mitrasattama yadarthe ca spṛhā jātā tava cādya manobhava

"Listen, O Kama, best of friends, I shall tell you the truth exactly -- this, O Manobhava, is the very task for which your desire has arisen today."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.80.30)

तारकाख्यो महादैत्यो ब्रह्मणो वरमद्भुतम् । अभूतजेयः सम्प्राप्य सर्वेषामपि दुःखदः

tārakākhyo mahādaityo brahmaṇo varamadbhutam abhūtajeyaḥ samprāpya sarveṣāmapi duḥkhadaḥ

"The great demon named Taraka, having obtained a wondrous boon from Brahma, has become unconquerable and now brings suffering upon all."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.80.31)

तेन सम्पीड्यते लोको नष्टा धर्मा ह्यनेकशः । दुःखिता निर्जराः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तथाखिलाः

tena sampīḍyate loko naṣṭā dharmā hyanekaśaḥ duḥkhitā nirjarāḥ sarve ṛṣayaśca tathākhilāḥ

"By him the whole world is oppressed, many righteous ways have been destroyed; the undecaying gods themselves, and all the sages too, have fallen into sorrow."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.80.32)

देवैश्च सकलैस्तेन कृतं युद्धं यथाबलम् । सर्वेषां चायुधान्यत्र विफलान्यभवन्पुरा

devaiśca sakalaistena kṛtaṁ yuddhaṁ yathābalam sarveṣāṁ cāyudhānyatra viphalānyabhavanpurā

"All the gods fought against him, each with all his strength, but on that occasion every weapon of theirs proved useless there."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.80.33)

भग्नः पाशो जलेशस्य हरिचक्रं सुदर्शनम् । तत्कुण्ठितमभूत्तस्य कण्ठे क्षिप्तं च विष्णुना

bhagnaḥ pāśo jaleśasya haricakraṁ sudarśanam tatkuṇṭhitamabhūttasya kaṇṭhe kṣiptaṁ ca viṣṇunā

"Varuna's noose was broken; Vishnu's Sudarshana chakra was blunted, and Vishnu had to cast it back around his own neck."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.80.34)

एतस्य मरणं प्रोक्तं प्रजेशेन दुरात्मनः । शम्भोर्वीर्योद्भवाद्बालान्महायोगीश्वरस्य हि

etasya maraṇaṁ proktaṁ prajeśena durātmanaḥ śambhorvīryodbhavādbālānmahāyogīśvarasya hi

"Prajapati has declared that the death of this evil-souled demon can come only from a child born of Shambhu's own seed -- from the son of the great lord of yogis."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.80.35)

एतत्कार्यं त्वया साधु कर्तव्यं सुप्रयत्नतः । ततःस्यान्मित्रवर्याति देवानां नः परं सुखम्

etatkāryaṁ tvayā sādhu kartavyaṁ suprayatnataḥ tataḥsyānmitravaryāti devānāṁ naḥ paraṁ sukham

"This task must be well accomplished by you, and with utmost effort -- only then, O best of friends, shall we gods find supreme happiness."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.80.36)

ममापि विहितं तस्मात्सर्वलोकसुखावहम् । मित्रधर्मं हृदि स्मृत्वा कर्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम्

mamāpi vihitaṁ tasmātsarvalokasukhāvaham mitradharmaṁ hṛdi smṛtvā kartumarhasi sāmpratam

"This task, which brings comfort to every world, has thus been ordained for my sake as well; remembering the duty of friendship in your heart, you should undertake it now."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.80.37)

शम्भुःस गिरिराजे हि तपः परममास्थितः । स प्रभुर्नापि कामेन स्वतन्त्रः परमेश्वरः

śambhuḥsa girirāje hi tapaḥ paramamāsthitaḥ sa prabhurnāpi kāmena svatantraḥ parameśvaraḥ

"Shambhu abides near the king of mountains, established in the highest austerity; he is the supreme, self-ruling Lord, not subject even to the power of Kama."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.80.38)

तत्समीपे च देवार्थं पार्वती स्वसखीयुता । सेवमाना तिष्ठतीति पित्राज्ञप्ता मया श्रुतम्

tatsamīpe ca devārthaṁ pārvatī svasakhīyutā sevamānā tiṣṭhatīti pitrājñaptā mayā śrutam

"I have heard that near him Parvati, together with her companions, dwells serving him at her father's command, for the sake of the gods."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.80.39)

यथा तस्यां रुचिस्तस्य शिवस्य नियतात्मनः । जायेत नितरां मार तथा कार्यं त्वया ध्रुवम्

yathā tasyāṁ rucistasya śivasya niyatātmanaḥ jāyeta nitarāṁ māra tathā kāryaṁ tvayā dhruvam

"By whatever means, O Mara, the self-controlled Shiva's desire may be truly kindled toward her, that very task must surely be accomplished by you."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.80.40)

इति कृत्वा कृती स्यास्त्वं सर्वं दुःखं विनङ्क्ष्यति । लोके स्थायी प्रतापस्ते भविष्यति न चान्यथा

iti kṛtvā kṛtī syāstvaṁ sarvaṁ duḥkhaṁ vinaṅkṣyati loke sthāyī pratāpaste bhaviṣyati na cānyathā

"Having done this, you will have fulfilled your purpose, and all sorrow will vanish; your glory will stand eternal in the world, never otherwise."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.80.41)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तः स तु कामो हि प्रफुल्लमुखपङ्कजः । प्रेम्णोवाचेति देवेशं करिष्यामि न संशयः

brahmovāca ityuktaḥ sa tu kāmo hi praphullamukhapaṅkajaḥ premṇovāceti deveśaṁ kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

Brahma said: Thus addressed, Kama's lotus face blossomed with delight, and he said to the lord of the gods with affection: "I shall surely do this -- of that there is no doubt."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.80.42)

इत्युक्त्वा वचनं तस्मै तथेत्योमिति तद्वचः । अग्रहीत्तरसा कामः शिवमायाविमोहितः

ityuktvā vacanaṁ tasmai tathetyomiti tadvacaḥ agrahīttarasā kāmaḥ śivamāyāvimohitaḥ

Having spoken these words, saying "so be it" and "Om," Kama swiftly accepted the charge -- deluded, as he was, by Shiva's own maya.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.80.43)

यत्र योगीश्वरः साक्षात्तप्यते परमं तपः । जगाम तत्र सुप्रीतः सदारः सवसन्तकः

yatra yogīśvaraḥ sākṣāttapyate paramaṁ tapaḥ jagāma tatra suprītaḥ sadāraḥ savasantakaḥ

To that place where the very lord of yogis was performing his supreme austerity, he went in great joy, together with his wife and with Vasanta.